Crackdown on car tax dodgers in Newsome

Jan 17 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A CRIME clampdown in parts of Huddersfield led to 18 cars being towed away for not being taxed – including one belonging to a former policeman.

The blitz in Newsome and Almondbury also led to a car chase where police recovered a car stolen in a recent burglary.

And police caught several youngsters playing truant from schools.

The campaign ran on Monday and Tuesday.

Roadside checks by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the DVLA discovered 25 vehicles that were not fit to be on the road and were immediately banned.

Several people were given instant fines for minor traffic offences.

Eight drivers were warned to change their number plates as the letters and numbers did not conform to current regulations.

One person was arrested on a warrant and another was given a caution for possessing cannabis.

Insp David Glover from Huddersfield Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “This has been a very successful operation in terms of the truancy work undertaken and the multi-agency vehicle checkpoints.

“We will continue to target vehicles that are not taxed or insured as the people driving these vehicles generally have no respect for the safety of other road users and the costs that all lawful vehicle owners have to bear.

“What was disappointing is that one of the drivers who had their car seized under the no insurance scheme was an ex police officer who should have known better.’’