A 2-day operation which saw mainland officers descend on the Island to support the newly-formed Isle of Wight Roads Policing unit resulted in 2 arrests and 89 tickets being handed out.
On Wednesday and Thursday this week, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary conducted Operation Wightwash – a period of heightened activity intercepting drivers whose standards fell below the legal requirements.
Both marked and unmarked vehicles – including unmarked motorcycles – were used to identify and stop motorists committing offences. The majority of offences were for speeding, however, drivers were also stopped for having no insurance, no MOT and driving defective vehicles, amongst other construction and use offences. 15 motorists were also ticketed for driving without a seatbelt.
During the operation, officers arrested 2 motorcyclists on Wootton High Street on suspicion of drug driving. 1 was released with no further action, however, the second rider – an 18-year-old man from Ryde – was released but remains under investigation while further enquiries are conducted.
As previously reported by Island Echo, PCs Alchin and Ball are heading up the Isle of Wight Roads Policing Unit some 7 years after the-then Shanklin-based RPU was scrapped.
Acting Superintendent Alex Charge has said:
“We are now the only district in Force that has its own dedicated Roads Policing Unit. PCs Alchin and Ball have already shown how committed they are to keeping our roads safer, and their achievements since stepping into their new roles only a short time ago speak volumes.
“It’s important to understand that while the current unit is made up of two dedicated officers, any officer on the Isle of Wight can and will be enforcing poor driving behaviours.
Article continues below this advertisement “We are also fortunate to have the very capable and proactive RP/ARV teams who regularly target drivers who display behaviours under the ‘Fatal Four’ banner. These are the four poor driving habits that often lead to serious or fatal collisions – drink/drug driving, driving without a seatbelt, speeding, and using a mobile phone whilst driving.
“It’s clear that the public have concerns around road safety and bad driving. I want the community to be reassured that we are really driving efforts to tackle this. We have purchased extra speed guns to assist in enforcement work, and you can expect to hear much more about what our officers have been up to on the roads.”
If you have video footage of a road incident that you would like to submit to Police, you can do this using the Hants Snap tool on our website at https://www.hampshire.police.uk/police-forces/hampshire-constabulary/areas/hants-snap/hantsnap/hants-snap—report-an-incident/.
Operation ‘Get some money in for a Christmas Party’ went well. Handing out points like presents but have no time to catch thefts, pedos and big drug dealers
Sounds like sour grapes maybe you are one of these who flaunts the law ???
Honestly? Join the real world. Illegal driving seriously injures and kills people. Just accept the Police are trying to save lives, perhaps even your own or your family and friends. Think on
Good, they can have a crackdown every week of the year, bring it on..
Great to see mainland brains getting involved.
Now drive round the island fining all the idiots who are parked on pavements and
Parked on Double Yellow lines
YOU WILL MAKE A FORTUNE
Start with Great Preston Road, Ryde then Regent Street, Shanklin.
Drugs dealing in Steyne road car park but just how much video evidence does the Police require before such incidents result in them turning out?
The small, but very vocal, minority on the Island who want everyone to drive at 20mph with, preferably, a man with a red flag walking in front, must be very pleased at this operation?
That’s the way to do it. More nicks the better. That person who does not abide the law. It’s that sort that will damage you or your property. And run away and hide under there beds.
“Operation Wightwash”. I thought it was going to be an article about the council.
But bet most speeders were those doing little over 10% speed limit. It’s the idiots that over take on St George’s way, some go wrong side of lights to overtake towards Asda, twice in last few weeks. Catch the knobs with no lights on in poor weather or dark and no consideration for other road users.
Worst culprits scalfold drivers, I’ve never seen one wear a seat belt
Scaffolders scum of the earth all think they are gods gift to everything!
More mainland police rejects coming over didn’t quite make the met lol
Well done Guys n Girls for a cracking Job well done, i know those of you who have had a ticket or two dont think they have done a good job, but they have
Excellent news, more cops on the road should mean less idiots getting away with poor driving. Benefits all of us who want to arrive at our destination in one piece.
Any chance of mainland reinforcements similarly ‘descending’ on the Island to clean up the appalling growth of street crime in our towns ?
PC Mike Alchin reminds me of Desperate Dan from the Beano comic.
Will be interesting to see if a sustained traffic police presence results in a reduction of upside down vehicles.