A "RING of steel" was being thrown around West Yorkshire today in a huge police operation.

Hundreds of officers were involved in a concerted effort to trap criminals travelling by road across the county.

And they expect that up to 100 cars a day would be seized - with dozens of people likely to be arrested.

The aim is to stop criminals travelling around the region.

Roads across the area will be patrolled by police to ensure criminals don't have an easy ride to commit criminal activity.

The operation will build on the success of the Strikeback campaign to tackle priority crime, particularly burglary, robbery and vehicle crime.

The operation is part of a one-week campaign to take vehicles used to commit crime out of circulation and to intercept criminals who are on route to carry out crime.

Automatic number plate recognition operations will be implemented every day at co-ordinated points.

Officers have mapped strategic points across the county, which will act as a barrier to criminals on the move.

Police are also working with DVLA to identify vehicles that are on the road illegally.

DVLA has the capacity to clamp up to 100 vehicles per day and it is expected the joint operation will be hugely disruptive to criminal behaviour.

Hundreds of officers are taking part in the week of action.

Det Chief Insp John Gilbody is leading the operation.

He said: "The theme for the winter crime crackdown is to deny criminals access to the roads.

"Our aim to support reductions in priority crime, especially robbery, burglary and vehicle crime.

"The roads will be locked-down to allow us to lock up anyone intent on committing crime.

"If we are able to take out vehicles that are used by criminals we will have achieved success in disrupting illegal activity and organised crime.

"We want to make life as difficult as possible for those who are intent on breaking the law and one way is to remove their access to transport.

"We know that criminals share vehicles and have team cars or pool cars to get them from crime to crime.

"Together with DVLA we will identify these vehicles and take them off the road.

"We would also appeal for members of the community who have information about people involved in burglaries or vehicle crime to contact the police on 0845 60 60 606 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."