POLICE stopped a stolen car during a day of targeted checks on vehicles in Waterloo.

Three people were arrested yesterday after the car – pinched that morning – was stopped on its way towards Huddersfield from Flockton.

Five cars were clamped for not being taxed and two were seized for being unroadworthy.

Insp David Glover, of Huddersfield South Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “It was a really successful day and was really well received.”

The operation was part of a two-day initiative called Kirklees Focus.

Police used automatic number plate recognition systems to catch uninsured and untaxed cars.

Stop and search powers were used to check vehicles for proper waste documents in a bid to stop flytippers.

Kirklees Council and other organisations were also involved in the scheme in the Almondbury and Newsome wards yesterday and today.

As well as the action against nuisance vehicles, officials carried out patrols to target environmental crime.

Dog wardens went on a walk-about in response to complaints about fouling.

Housing workers were on the look-out for untidy gardens and talking to tenants about their obligations to keep the rubbish-free.

Community rangers were removing graffiti and litter.

James Denton, community safety officer for Kirklees Council, said environmental crime had a big impact on the lives of residents.

He said: “We have done these Focus days before and concentrated on other issues.

“But we have seen quite a dramatic drop in crime figures in recent years so we decided to focus on environmental crime.

“There’s a theory called the ‘broken window’ theory that if you look after the small crimes, the big ones are taken care of.”