RECOVERING stolen cars, targeting dangerous drivers and making the region’s roads safer is all in a day’s work of the West Midlands Roads Policing Unit (RPU).
Last month, the unit made 179 arrests, and recovered 650 vehicles – including more than 400 that were uninsured and 135 that were stolen.
The force unveiled a new approach to keeping the roads of the West Midlands safe in October, with extra patrols, the latest technology, and new cars.
Road crime teams (RCT) target serious and organised criminals who use the road network, while road harm prevention teams (RHPT) work to drive down the number of people killed and seriously injured in collisions. A third unit of 24/7 officers work around the clock to bolster the work of their colleagues.
Last month the RCT recovered stolen cars worth £674,000, £64,950 of drugs, and made 28 arrests for offences ranging from drug dealing to arson, burglary, robbery, theft of cars and dangerous driving.
Successes included three stolen vehicles recovered in one night after pursuits, with six people arrested for offences ranging from burglary to drug dealing, a 16-year-old driver arrested after a stolen Ford Focus he was driving was spotted in Tyseley and made off from officers – he was arrested with the help of the police helicopter after fleeing on foot into a park and the discovery of this chop shop following the pursuit of a stolen Range Rover and two arrests.
Inside the chop shop, police said officers found two more stolen vehicles and multiple stolen car parts.
Supt Gareth Mason, head of the RPU, said: “We’ve had some fantastic successes since October’s launch. Our officers are absolutely dedicated to making the roads safer, and removing criminals from behind the wheels of cars where they can cause real damage.
“We know that too many people are still being killed and seriously injured on our roads, and our Road Harm officers are committed to educating and taking action against drivers who put themselves and others at risk with their driving.”
