OFFICERS were out in force this week cracking down on motorists.

Essex Police, along with representatives from the DVLA and Essex County Council’s Trading Standards team, were on the look out for speeding motorists, those without tax, insurance or an MOT, as well as criminals transporting stolen goods.

There was also a motorbike unit located near the Birchanger Services.

Officers spent Monday morning in Hatfield Heath before moving to Stansted Mountfitchet in the afternoon. Herts Police ran a similar operation in Bishop’s Stortford on the same day.

On the day more than 4,000 vehicles were checked.

Officers siezed one car without tax; 17 speeding tickets were issued; and a driver was arrested for driving while disqualified.

Sgt Martin Richards said: “Metal thefts and thefts from vehicles are the crimes we see most frequently.

“Operations like this are good to catch criminals transporting goods days after they commit the crimes, and having officers out in force like this also deters criminals.”