Bury: Police crack down on traffic crime in Bury for Operation AVRO

Officers carried out checks on Manchester Road, just outside the town centre, in conjunction with Greater Manchester Police's Operation AVRO, which targets serious crime.

Traffic officers worked with partners such as the council to conduct routine checks on trade vehicles and taxis, as well as to look out for drivers breaking the law by using mobile phones, failing to wear a seatbelt, and even fly-tipping.

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Police conducted vehicle checks in Bury (Image: Newsquest)

Traffic police community support officer Ian Thompson said patrols such as these can remind drivers of the law, and encourage them to make sure their cars are up to scratch.

He said: “We’re looking for mobile phones, seatbelts and registration plates as there are plenty of those are illegal.

“Anything of a trade nature, we’ll pull that in and they will get checked for insurance, and trading standards can come along and check the vehicle is right in whatever it's doing.

"They can check tyres, suspension, lights and if there's anything wrong drivers get paperwork, and if they don’t sort it they’ll get a fine.”

PCSO Thompson added that even routine checks or drivers pulled over for minor offences such as a missing seatbelt can lead officers to uncovering more serious crimes such as drug possession, no insurance, and even lead them to find known criminals.

The force worked with council licencing enforcement officers who checked taxis are up to scratch.

Licensing officer Luke Solzcak explained that his role is to check compliance of private hire vehicles with regulations, including the display of ID badges and an up-to-date number plate.

He added: “If they weren’t compliant, we’d ask them to rectify the issue, to get the badge on change the plates and things like that, so they’re in line with the conditions of their license.

“If there was anything wrong with the vehicle we’d suspend it and ask them to go and get it repaired.

"We would contact the operator and block them so they couldn't continue using it, then they would have to present the vehicle at a later date so we can check it was for use.”

Licensing officers conduct routine checks on taxis during Operation AVRO in Bury (Image: Newsquest)

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Bury District Commander Superintendent Chris Hill said AVRO has included road patrols as he says traffic problems were a concern for residents, particularly speeding.

He said: “We’ve ensured a couple of traffic operations [today] but it's not just for half an hour or an hour, it's an intensification across the borough of Bury.

“A big one for me is mobile phones, it's totally unacceptable to use a mobile phone. It's similar to drink driving, you are not in control of that vehicle if you are on a mobile phone.

“From a community perspective, if you are driving down a road, whether it be 20, 30 or 50mph and you’re on your mobile phone.

"You are more likely to have an accident, or unfortunately, run someone over, as your response rate is drastically reduced.”