Arrests Made In Suffolk Police Operation

20 September 2010, 17:17 | Updated: 20 September 2010, 17:21

Sixteen people have been arrested in the first three weeks of a new operation to target rogue traders and distraction burglars in Suffolk.

Operation Seawolf was started in the week beginning Monday 23 August and between then and Friday 10 September officers have made 16 arrests including six people in Bury St Edmunds on Thursday 26 August and five in Lowestoft on Wednesday 8 September on suspicion of fraud offences.

A further four have been arrested for offences including taking a motor vehicle without consent, assault occasioning ABH, burglary and criminal damage and a fifth was arrested on warrant.

In addition to this three cannabis warnings have been issued, 18 vehicles have been seized for insurance and/ or driving licence offences, 32 fixed penalty notices have been issued, 17 people have been reported for summons on other road traffic act offences and one stolen vehicle has been recovered.

The operation is led by the Automatic Number Plate Recognition Intercept Team (ANPRIT) with support from roads policing, tactical firearms, territorial support unit and Special Constabulary police officers and partner agencies including Suffolk Trading Standards.

During the course of the days of action officers have stopped 132 vehicles for checks.

So far, officers have been deployed on several occasions in Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich and Lowestoft and more work will be done in the coming weeks at these and new locations in the county.