A POLICE operation aimed at tackling dangerous, illegal and anti-social use of vehicles in Bradford has hit a milestone.

The Steerside Enforcement Team has reached 2,000 seizures of vehicles in the Bradford district.

Officers regularly post pictures of the vehicles they stop on the Bradford district roads on social media.

 

Operation Steerside was launched in 2016 specifically to tackle dangerous and anti-social driving in the Bradford district and was partly-inspired by the T&A's Stop the Danger Drivers campaign.

It evolved two years later into a multi-agency partnership to work proactively on illegal use of the roads.

Inspector Nick Haigh of West Yorkshire Police said: “This is a key milestone to hit, 2,000 vehicles are now off the roads of Bradford District. 

“But the work doesn’t stop there, we are committed to tackling anti-social, dangerous or illegal vehicle use across the area. 

"Anti-social use of motor vehicles continues to be one of the most significant concerns of our communities.

“Through working closer in partnership with our communities we will continue to make the roads of Bradford safer for all.”

While many of the seizures have taken place in inner-city areas of Bradford, the long-running operation has also taken Steerside officers to some more remote parts of the district.

In February last year, the Operation Steerside team were informed of a number of vehicles driving on protected green space on Ilkley Moor.

They arrived to find three vehicles on the moorland, and that they had all become "very stuck."

A spokesman for the team said: "All three of these vehicles have been seized using powers under S59 of the Police Reform Act for driving offroad."

A number of days of action have been held in hotspot areas since the initiaitve began.

This summer, Special Constables joined Steerside officers for one such day of action in Bradford, helping to seize 11 vehicles. 

The day, on Saturday, June 18, also saw 39 traffic offence reports submitted for a range of offences - including not wearing a seatbelt, no insurance and use of a mobile phone behind the wheel. 

 

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