There has been a heavy police presence in Wilmslow today, with dozens of police cars passing through the town and a police helicopter hovering above.
This is all part of Operation Crossbow which is targeting criminals travelling across the borders between Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire.
The partnership operation involves officers from Cheshire Police, Greater Manchester Police, Derbyshire Police, Staffordshire Police and West Mercia Police and is aimed at disrupting criminal activity across the region and denying criminals the use of the roads.
Inspector Stuart York from Cheshire Police, said: "We are relentless in our pursuit of organised crime and will use a whole host of tactics to disrupt criminals working in our region. Criminals do not simply stop committing crimes when they reach the police border, but instead they rely on the road network to enable them to commit criminal offences.
"There is a strong link between the illegal use of vehicles and other serious and organised crime, which is why we are working together with our colleagues to target these criminals as they travel across the region.
"This is one of the largest partnership operations Cheshire Police has ever undertaken, with more than 200 officers taking part. These officers all have access to technology and intelligence such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), which is an excellent tool to allow officers to identify offenders and bring them to justice."
Superintendent Craig Thompson from Greater Manchester Police said: "We will not allow the safety of our roads to be compromised by criminals and operations like this send out a clear message to offenders that they are not welcome in any region.
"Rest assured that this is not a one off. Work takes place 365 days a year to crackdown on criminality on the roads and by working alongside other Forces and sharing intelligence, it's only a matter of time before those causing misery are caught."
Superintendent Steve Wilson, head of roads policing at Derbyshire Police said: "Large-scale operations like this are key to tackling those criminals who think they can simply use our major routes as a quick and easy way of committing crime.
"Criminals should know that technology like ANPR cameras allow us to have eyes everywhere, gathering intelligence. Our message is clear – if you use the road network to commit crime, we will target you and bring you to justice."
Inspector Stuart York from Cheshire Police added: "This is about using joint resources to make the roads in our region a hostile place for travelling criminals who do harm in our communities.
"We are using dedicated resources and ANPR technology to identify and target criminals using the road network and it is heartening to see our partners, which include Driver Vehicles Standards, the Environment Agency, HMRC, the Licensing Authority and Trading Standards, supporting this extensive police operation.
"The message is clear - you use stolen vehicles, you drive illegally, you travel the roads to commit crime, then we will target you"
All forces are keen to remind the public that they too can help keep our roads safe by reporting illegal use of vehicles to the police on 101. Alternatively information can be reported anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Just a suggestion or two to the Police.
1 split up, you'll catch more criminals that way.
2 don't put the helicopter up unless you have a need to.
3 PR is not a "need"
4 walk softly and carry a big stick rather than the reverse
Finally never ever complain of a lack of resources again if you can justify taking so many units and their associated personnel off line to parade through wilmslow .
Hope this helps