MORE than 250 police officers from three forces took part in a joint operation today aimed at denying criminals access to the region's roads.

Criminals travelling across the borders between Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales are being targeted today, Wednesday, as part of Operation Crossbow.

The operation is aimed at disrupting criminal activity across the region and denying criminals the use of the roads.

Officers have set up in various locations across Ellesmere Port, Chester, Northwich and Merseyside.

Superintendent Paul Williams from Cheshire Police, said: "We know that criminals do not simply stop committing crimes when they reach the police border, but instead they rely on the road network to enable them to commit criminal offences across the north west.

"There is a strong link between the illegal use of vehicles and other serious and organised crime, which is why we are working together with our colleagues from Merseyside and North Wales Police, along with partner agencies, to target these criminals as they travel across the region.

"This is one of the largest partnership operations Cheshire Police has ever undertaken, with more than 250 officers taking part. These officers all have access to technology and intelligence such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), which is an excellent tool to allow officers to identify offenders and bring them to justice."

In addition to targeting criminals on the road network, officers from Cheshire Police have also undertaken a number of drugs warrants across the West Cheshire area as part of the operation.

In total officers conducted six warrants for drugs related offences.

Superintendent Paul Levick from Merseyside Police said: "We are relentless in our pursuit of organised crime and will use a whole host of tactics to disrupt criminals working in our region.

"Today′s operation was focused on restricting the ability of criminals to travel on the region′s networks and provides us with an effective way of reducing their ability to commit crime.

"We want to ensure that motorists travelling on the region′s roads can do so safely and to send out the message that we take robust action against anyone found to be involved in criminal behaviour or driving illegally.

"We continually use our resources and ANPR technology to bring offenders to justice, recover stolen vehicles and to reduce crime in our communities so be warned - if you are using a stolen vehicle or any other vehicle to commit crime, you will be caught."

Wirral Globe:
Police officers are briefed on Operation Crossbow. Picture: Emma Rigby

Superintendent Sacha Hatchettfrom North Wales Police added: "This is about using joint resources to make the roads in our region a hostile place for travelling criminals who do harm in our communities.

"We are using dedicated resources and ANPR technology to identify and target criminals using the road network and it is heartening to see our partners, which include Driver Vehicles Standards, the Environment Agency, HMRC, the Licensing Authority and Trading Standards, supporting this extensive police operation.

"The message is clear - you use stolen vehicles, you drive illegally, you travel the roads to commit crime, then we will target you"

Cheshire Superintendent Paul Williams added: "Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales Police are committed to working in collaboration to proactively target those who choose to commit crime to fund their lifestyles and operations such as today are set to continue."

All three forces are keen to remind the public that they too can help keep our roads safe by reporting illegal use of vehicles to the police on 101.

Alternatively information can be reported anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.