HAULAGE companies which take short cuts on road safety and are involved in criminal activity are being targeted by a police led multi-agency group. Set up following the restructuring of the force s roads policing unit in April 2006, the group has represen

HAULAGE companies which take short cuts on road safety and are involved in criminal activity are being targeted by a police led multi-agency group.

Set up following the restructuring of the force's roads policing unit in April 2006, the group has representatives from Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies, VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) and Revenues and Customs.

The group is focusing on denying criminals the use of the roads, promoting road safety and reducing casualties.

Superintendent Mick Gipp, who heads the new road policing unit, said: "The multiagency group was established to create a stronger force in our fight to deny criminals the use of the roads.

"This is part of the restructuring work of the force's roads policing unit to focus our efforts on the national priorities set out by the government.

"Denying criminals the use of the roads is a vital part of crime prevention and a tactic that my officers take extremely seriously.

"Through sharing intelligence across the three forces and via the other agencies we are better equipped to target haulage companies taking short cuts on road safety or involved in criminality."

The group has already had success with one haulage firm who were taking short cuts with road safety. The owner of the firm had his operator's licence revoked and has since had 12 vehicles seized after he continued to operate his vehicles.

Supt Gipp added: "This is part of ongoing work to crack down on operators who are a danger to other road users.

"We will continue to target these companies in all forms to deny them the use of the roads and make the regions roads safer."

The multi-agency group holds regular meetings to identify and target haulage companies involved in criminality and/or taking short cuts in road safety.

Superintendent Gipp added: "These companies involved in illegal activity and taking safety short cuts are ruining the industry for legitimate businesses.

"The sheer size of some of these vehicles can be daunting enough to other road users, but when they are not safe to be on the roads they are a menace.