Police in traffic crime crackdown

Officers from eight police forces took part in the operation

A huge police operation targeting criminals who are on the move has taken place in North Yorkshire.

Scores of police officers from across the north of England checked every vehicle using the main routes in and out of York.

In helicopters and on the road, they used cameras and number plate recognition technology to find vehicles which had been linked to criminality.

Officers from more than 20 European countries took part as observers.

They were in the UK for the annual European Traffic Police Network conference and wore their national uniforms during the operation.

Teams stopped any vehicles which arose suspicion or that police already had intelligence upon.

The officers and vehicles taking part were from the North, South and West Yorkshire, Northumbria, Durham, Cleveland and Humberside forces.

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Police tackle crime on roads

North Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable Adam Briggs said: "There has never been an operation of this kind on this scale before.

"It will give a unique insight into the use of the roads by criminals and also assess and develop our capability to deal with the major incidents and high security events such as the 2012 Olympics.

"It will send out a clear message to criminals who use the road network that they cannot escape the attention of the police."