Neighbourhood operations crack down on driving offences around Rochdale

Officers from Rochdale’s neighbourhood policing team are taking action on driving offences

Rochdale’s neighbourhood policing team is shifting gears on driving offences as part of a broader crackdown on criminality in the area.

In recent weeks, officers have welcomed the traffic team’s Operation Considerate to tackle a range of issues on the roads of Rochdale – from dangerous driving and not using a seatbelt to non-conforming registration plates and using a mobile phone.

Members of Rochdale’s local Trading Standards Team have also been in attendance, to monitor improper additions to vehicles and to assist with building a wider intelligence picture of crime.

As with every neighbourhood team across every district of the force, officers have received reports from within the community and taken action – in this case the range of traffic operations.

Across just a couple of hours based on Tweedale Street on Thursday 30 May, close to the Freehold Estate, officers handed out 37 tickets for numerous offences, provided words of advice, performed general checks of vehicles, and seized a further two. In attendance were members of the Rochdale Tutor Unit, who were able to further bolster their skills.

This follows on from actions the previous week which saw more of the same – including further seizures, stop-searches, and more.

During the morning, which was followed by visits to stores with Trading Standards, locals and nearby residents visited the location where officers were stopping cars to ask what was going on. All were enthusiastic about the operation – with one willing to even join in to help officers!

While the traffic work makes just part of the policing picture, officers are continuing to tackle anti-social behaviour, drug offences and gangs operating in the town – and locals can expect to see more officers out and about over the following weeks.

PC Richards, from GMP's Rochdale district, said: “We are determined to provide the best possible service for Rochdale – and we will work to tackle the problems that the people want us to.

"We had reports of driving offences, so (we) brought in traffic officers. We’ve had reports of illicit vapes – so we worked with trading standards, and have subsequently seized thousands. When people come to us with a problem, we do our utmost to ensure we use all the appropriate resources to solve it.

“We aim to keep up with these visits and operations – hammering rogue traders, dodgy drivers and patrolling areas where people tell us problems occur. That is the goal of the Rochdale Neighbourhood Team – they are there for the community.

“If you have any issues, please do get in touch with us. Whether it’s via 101 to report ongoing crimes or issues, or by attending a local PACT meeting, our officers are ready to listen and provide help.”