SEVENTEEN people were arrested and 15 vehicles were seized after the latest joint operation targeting crime along Essex’s borders with London and Hertfordshire.

A cross-force team from Essex, the Met, Hertfordshire and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) tracked down vehicles believed to be involved in crime using hits from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.

Activity in Essex was focused on the districts of Epping Forest and Harlow, areas that are easily accessible from the M25 and M11.

One of the highlights of the night was the successful hunt for two suspected burglars after reports of men cutting the fence to a yard in Waltham Abbey. They were quickly tracked down and arrested; one for burglary and possession of a knife and the other for burglary and possession of a Class B drug.

There were also arrests by Essex officers for possession of Class A drugs with the intent to supply, drink driving and drug driving. Four men were also detained for immigration offences.

Across the night, officers carried out 24 stop searches, submitted 20 intelligence reports, issued 40 tickets for traffic offences and handed out two Community Resolutions.

This was the 16th Operation Claymore and in total it has resulted in 134 arrests, 236 stop searches, and 103 vehicles being recovered or seized.

PC Ross Ashcroft leads the operation and said it was another successful night for the team:

“Actively targeting vehicles significantly restricts the ability of criminals to operate. When incidents occurred or ANPR alerts came in, officers are on the scene quickly and detaining suspects.

“The fact that Op Claymore has now resulted in 134 arrests sends a clear message to anyone who believes crossing force boundaries offers protection — it doesn’t.

“Vehicle theft, burglary and drug supply have a huge impact on communities. By working closely with neighbouring forces and sharing intelligence, we’re picking up those groups who are travelling to commit crime. They don’t stop at our borders, and neither do we.

“The arrests made are clear examples of exactly the type of offending that Claymore is designed to tackle — identifying suspects on the move and rapidly taking action to stop them.”