CHELMSFORD Prison remains one of the most dangerous and violent jails in the country, new figures have shown.

Figures released this week by the Ministry of Justice reveal that 635
attacks were recorded across HMP Chelmsford in 2018 – just eight other jails had higher numbers of assaults.

The number of assaults is up from 530 the previous year and is the highest number recorded since at least 2003, when modern records began.

The level of violence – the jail recorded a total of 414 assaults in 2016 – has been decried by the Prisoner Officers Association, which has said the Ministry of Justice needs to implement an investigation into the increases in attacks.

Assaults on staff have also increased – from 200 in 2017 to 290 in 2018.

The rise of 45 per cent follows a 185 per cent increase in serious assaults on staff from seven incidents in 2016 to 20 in 2017, recognised by the jail, which has introduced a new model to improve closer working with prisoners.

But Jackie Marshall, of the Prison Officers Association, said jails are still trying to catch up after more than 7,500 officers were made redundant.

She added that the introduction of PAVA – a type of pepper spray – would help bring order back to the country’s prisons.

She said: “They just keep delaying it. A lot of the incidents we are having wouldn’t occur if we had PAVA.

“But the level of violence is just not acceptable and prisoners are not safe either.

“When they got rid of all the staff and lost about 7,500 frontline staff prisons just got out of control. They are now recruiting as fast as they can, they are pushing new staff through training as fast as they can. But they are still out of control.”

Scanners which detect drugs on clothes and mail are up and running at 10 of the most challenging jails, Prisons Minister Rory Stewart announced in January. But Chelmsford is not one.

Ms Marshall added: “Spice is a major problem. And it is affecting the levels of violence.”

However serious prisoner on prisoner assaults have dropped from 44 in 2017, to 21 in 2018.

And serious assaults (including fights) have also dropped from the 62 in 2017 to 39 in 2018.

An assault is classed as “serious” if it is sexual, if the prisoner requires detention in hospital as an inpatient, or if injuries include things like broken bones, burns, stabbings, bites and black eyes.

Serious assaults on staff went from 20 in 2017 to 18 in 2018.

The prison, built in 1830, has been used as a long term category B, a young person’s prison and a local prison since 1987. Two new houseblocks were opened in 1996 to relieve overcrowding.

Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “Today’s figures reveal the sheer scale of the challenge to transform a prison system that has been overburdened and under-resourced for years.

“Change is happening, but it is like trying to turn around an oil tanker.

“I welcome the government’s efforts to reduce violence, including recruiting more staff to increase numbers and refresh the workforce, but fundamental reform is being stymied by the lack of parliamentary time available for legislation.

“I believe the will is there among ministers to make prisons safe and to reduce their unnecessary use, but in the end, lives can only be saved and violence reduced if the nettle of reform is grasped.”

Across all prisons in England and Wales, there were 34,223 assaults – of which 3,918 were serious – in 2018.

That was up from 29,475 total attacks the previous year, of which 3,858 were serious.

The figures show that 117 of the assaults in 2018 were so bad that immediate admission to hospital was needed.

While the data shows an increase in assaults across last year as a whole, the number dipped towards the end of the year.

There were 8,150 assaults across all prisons in the last quarter of 2018, down from 9,126 in the previous three months.

Rory Stewart, prisons minister, said: “Violence and self-harm in prisons remains unacceptably high, but I’m pleased at these early signs that we are making progress.

“It’s particularly encouraging to see a quarterly drop in violence, the first in two years.

“Our dedicated prison staff deserve enormous credit and I want to thank them all for their tireless work.

“There is still much to do, however, and no-one should underestimate the effort required to return long-term stability to the prison estate.

“We will continue to prioritise improving safety and security – making conditions safer for prison officers and prisoners, and ultimately protecting the public.”

ESSEX Police are no longer looking to talk to a man in connection with defrauding a vulnerable woman in Harlow.

A spokesperson said: “It was reported to us that a woman, aged in her 60s, had been defrauded of £55,000 between August 2018 and January 2019.

“We issued a CCTV image on April 15 and a 24-year-old man from Hertfordshire is now assisting with our enquiries.

AN East of England shopworker is abused, threatened or assaulted over 19 times a year on average – Usdaw calls on the Government to act

Shopworker’s trade union Usdaw has today released shocking statistics from their annual survey which shows that on average East of England shopworkers were verbally abused, threatened or assaulted 19 times last year, which is more than once every three weeks.

Whilst not all shopworkers suffer to this extent, some experience much higher levels of abuse, threats and violence. Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear Survey shows that during 2018:
62% of East of England shopworkers experienced verbal abuse,

37% were threatened by a customer with 28 assaulted every day.

The Government has opened a ‘call for evidence’ on this growing issue, following pressure from Usdaw, employers like the Co-op and retailers’ representative organisations like the Association of Convenience Stores, British Retail Consortium and National Federation of Retail Newsagents. The Government is seeking the views of organisations and individuals who wish to contribute to their understanding of the problem of violence and abuse toward shop staff in England and Wales.

This consultation closes at 11pm on 28 June 2019 and submissions can be made online at: www.homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk/s/PVAUE/

Usdaw is running their own survey, which will feed into the Home Office ‘call for evidence’ and can be completed at: www.usdaw.org.uk/respectsurvey

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Violence, threats and abuse against workers are amongst the great scourges of our society. The statistics are shocking and show that urgent action is required. On average an East of England shopworker can end up on the wrong side of a verbal or physical assault more than once every three weeks. Our message is clear, abuse is not a part of the job.

“Life on the frontline of retail can be pretty tough for many shopworkers and there is still a lot to do to help protect them. We launched our Freedom From Fear Campaign in the face of growing concerns amongst retail staff about violence, threats and abuse. The campaign works with employers to promote respect and make shops safer for staff and customers alike.

“So there needs to be action to help protect staff. We want the Government to provide stiffer penalties for those who assault workers; a simple stand-alone offence that is widely recognised and understood by the public, police, CPS, the judiciary and most importantly criminals.

“Usdaw welcomes the Government opening a ‘call for evidence’ and we encourage everyone concerned with this issue to make their voices heard by contributing to the Home Office online consultation or visiting the Usdaw website to complete our survey, which we will submit to the Government.

“Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.”

Voices from the East of England frontline: As part of Usdaw’s survey of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers, respondents have the opportunity to feed back their experiences, here are some examples from the East of England:

Kings Lynn: “I refused to sell a tin of spray glue to a man I believed to be under 18 years old so he threw it at me”
Chelmsford: “Usually abuse from customers, when not enough staff in place, threatening behaviour usually from drunks and shoplifters.”
Spalding: “Customers throwing food back at us on the deli counter. Swearing at us, telling us we don’t know how to do our job.”
Harlow: “Customer asked to leave store because of behaviour. I was escorting him out, he carried on being abusive, threatened to assault me if he saw me outside and shoved me as we walked towards exit. The police were called.”
Hatfield: “Customers not being polite and having a rant for missing or substituted items.”
Cambridge: “Abuse mainly happens when refusing to serve intoxicated customers alcohol or stealing.”
Ipswich: “Experienced a very rude customer when deliveries were short after snow last year, I was poked in the arm by a customer.”
Norwich: “Hairdryer thrown at me. Foul language.”
Colchester: “Assaulted by a drunk customer, myself and two others, he got two months for each assault totalling six months.”

SUSSEX Police are appealing for help to trace a man wanted on recall to prison for breaching the terms of his licence.

22-year-old James Bryant, from Harlow, Essex, has had his licence revoked. He was last seen in Guildford on Monday, 22 April 2019.

He is described as:
• White
• 5ft 8in tall
• Of medium build
• Short brown hair

He is also thought to have scars on his forearms.

Bryant is believed to have links to Suffolk, as well as to Essex and Surrey.

If you have any information or have seen James Bryant, do not approach him but please call Surrey Police on 101 (999 in an emergency), quoting the reference number PR/45190041925.

A POLICE helicopter helped Bishop’s Stortford officers investigate two unrelated crimes last Friday afternoon at around 1.30pm reports the Stortford Independent.

The chopper was called to help trace a suspected vehicle thief. Officers tried to stop the driver in Fuller Court, off Stansted Road. He got out of the vehicle, a white Ford Transit van, and fled.

Minutes later, a witness saw three people remove lead from the roof of the old Red Cow pub in Dunmow Road.

Police found the trio with a pile of lead in their van. Officers in the helicopter confirmed that lead was missing from the roof.

The suspects told officers that a letting agent had given them permission to take the metal from the roof. Officers contacted the letting agent, who said that this was a lie.

Two men and a woman were arrested on suspicion of theft.

*A 30 year old woman from Harlow who was arrested on suspicion of theft has been released without charge.

*Daniel Hampton, 29 of Waterhouse Moor, Harlow and John Underwood, 40 of Pennymead, Harlow have both been charged with theft. They have been bailed and will appear at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 29.

ESSEX Police have arrested five men in North Weald in connection with car theft investigations.

A spokesperson said: “We attended an address in Weald Bridge Road at around 7am yesterday, Friday, May 3.

“We believe the site was being used for the breaking down of stolen vehicles and through our enquiries have identified 12 stolen cars”.

Four men, aged 20, 25 and 28, were arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicles.

A 25-year-old man from East Ham was arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicles, possession of cocaine and drink driving.

They have been released on bail until Thursday, May 30, pending further enquiries.

INSPECTORS judged that Essex Police is ‘good’ at effectively reducing crime and keeping people safe, ‘good’ at operating efficiently and providing sustainable services to the public, and ‘good’ in the way it treats the public and its workforce.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoe Billingham said she was pleased with the positive performance of Essex Police, but said it has more to do to root out corruption.

She said: “It is good at investigating crime and has continued to improve how it identifies and protects vulnerable people. It does this through more effective joint working with partners and greater use of protective powers.

“Essex Police is ambitious in its planning for the future and wants to be at the forefront of innovative practice. The force understands its demand well. It uses this information to develop robust financial and workforce plans to make sure it uses its resources as efficiently as possible.

“The force continues to uphold an ethical culture and promote standards of professional behaviour well. But it has more to do to assure itself that it has the capacity and capability to root out corruption.

“Overall, I commend Essex Police for sustaining its positive performance over the past year.”

The report highlights that the force failed to meet a national deadline for vetting its workforce and needs to “improve how it ensures its workforce behaves ethically and lawfully”.

The report stated:

Areas for improvement

• The force should ensure all officers and staff have at least the lowest level of vetting clearance for their roles and clear any backlogs, so it complies fully with the national vetting guidelines.
• The force should ensure that its counter-corruption unit:
• has enough capability and capacity to counter corruption effectively and
proactively;
• can fully monitor all of its computer systems, including mobile data, to proactively identify data breaches, protect the force’s data and identify computer misuse; and
• builds effective relationships with individuals and organisations that support and work with vulnerable people.

But inspectors have been reassured that the backlog will be completed by the end of spring this year and the force is increasing the number of staff in its anti-corruption intelligence unit.

Responding to the report, Chief Constable BJ Harrington said: “I am pleased that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) recognise the hard work and commitment of my officers and staff, in particular praising the work we are doing around protecting vulnerable people, preventing crime and our service to victims.

“HMICFRS inspected Essex Police in September last year and we have not waited for the report to put into place action to improve where they identified areas where we could do better. In particular a lot of work has already been done in areas such as how we investigate crime, however, we continuously review and improve how we work and have established further measures since the inspection was held.

“The demands on our force have been challenging; they are increasing and changing, but we will always strive to give the best possible service to our communities and I am pleased that the report recognises this.”

Roger Hirst, police, fire and crime commissioner for Essex, added: “This is a very positive independent assessment and is a credit to the hard work and dedication of all of the officers and staff at Essex Police.

“In terms of outcomes for the public, while good progress is being made, we know that there is still significant work to do to reduce overall crime in particular to tackle violent crime and crack down on gangs.”

The full report can be found here

https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/peel-assessment-2018-19-essex.pdf

ESSEX Police is appealing for information after an elderly man suffered a serious head after he fell from a bus in Harlow.

A spokesperson said: “We were called at around 10.50pm on Friday, May 3, with reports that a man aged in 70s was unconscious in Howard Way.

The man was a passenger on an Arriva bus and we understand that during the journey he asked the driver to stop the bus.

The driver was mid-route and told the elderly passenger to he would need to get off at the next stop.

Once the vehicle stopped, the passenger, who uses a walking aide, continued to talk to the driver before falling.

“He was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.

“We would like to talk to anyone who was on the bus or has information”.

Please call Chigwell Roads Policing Unit on 101 quoting incident 1478 of 03/05 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A FOURTEEN-year-old girl has been arrested following a stabbing in Milwards.

The incident happened on the evening of March 27th.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We arrested a 14-year-old girl on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, threats to kill and malicious communications on March 28.

“She has been bailed until Sunday, May 12”.

Original story

ESSEX Police have started an investigation after a teenage girl was stabbed.

A police spokesperson said: “We were called shortly before 8.30pm this evening, March 27, with reports a teenager had been stabbed on Milwards, Harlow.

“Officers and paramedics attended and a teenage girl was taken to hospital with a non-serious injury.

“No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing”.

Statement by ambulance service: “We were called at 8.21pm yesterday with reports that a person had been stabbed in Milwards, Harlow.

“We sent two ambulances and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance car.

“One person was taken to hospital for further treatment”.

A MAN arrested on suspicion of rape has been released without charge.

He was arrested following a report a woman had been raped at an address in Northbrooks, Harlow on Monday, January 7th.

The victim was being supported by specialist officers

Essex Police supplied an update on the case to YH on Monday.

A spokesperson said: “A 22-year-old man was released from bail without charge”.

BASILDON Crown Court heard how Andrew Goodchild, of ASG Plumbing and Heating had been served with a Prohibition Notice (PN) by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) earlier that year for carrying out gas work whilst not being registered with Gas Safe reports HSM.Com

Mr Goodchild ignored the requirements of the PN when he removed a gas cooker and pipework from the kitchen and moved a gas boiler, in Leigh-on-Sea in September 2016 leaving it in a dangerous condition. He had not become registered with Gas Safe Register and did not possess the necessary qualifications for carrying out gas work.

Andrew Goodchild of The Maples, Harlow, pleaded guilty to breaching the Prohibition Notice and Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and was found guilty in a Newton hearing of breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He has received an 18 month suspended sentence, ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and pay £3,200 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Saffron Turnell said: “Mr Goodchild showed a clear disregard for the law and put a number of people’s lives at risk. Carrying out gas work is difficult, specialised and potentially very dangerous. It is therefore vital that only registered gas engineers, who are trained and competent, work on gas appliances and fitt

A POLICE investigation into a stabbing in Sumners has stalled as the teenage victim is no longer “co-operating with the police”.

The incident took place in the underpass in Water Lane area, near to the roundabout with Broadley Road, at around 6.45pm on Friday, February 22.

It was reported the victim, a 17 year-old boy, had been approached by three men in Water Lane and, following a brief interaction, was stabbed in the leg.

The men then made off in the direction of the Sumners, The Herald pub and the Broadley Road shops while the teenager went to hospital.

The first man is described as black, 6ft 4ins tall, in his early 20s, broadly built, clean shaven, with short afro-style hair. He was wearing dark-coloured clothing and had a deep voice.

The second man is described as black, 6ft 3 ins tall, in his early 20s, of medium build and wearing dark-coloured clothing.

The third man is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, in his early 20s, of medium build with ginger hair and a small goaty-style beard

YH reported this incident in February. We have just asked Essex Police for an update.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “An investigation was carried out however our current lines of enquiry have been exhausted.

Unfortunately the victim is no longer engaging with our officers, the suspects are not been identified and there is no CCTV footage capturing the incident.

Anyone with information who has yet to come forward is asked to call Harlow CID on 101. Alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org

ESSEX Police are appealing for information about an aggravated burglary in Harlow where a woman was threatened by men in her home.

A spokesperson said: “We were called at around 3.25pm yesterday, Wednesday, May 8, with reports two men had forced entry to a property in Hare Street Springs as a woman was sleeping.

“We believe they went upstairs and demanded cash and jewellery while a third man waited outside.

They left with phone, jewellery and bank cards.

The two men who entered the address have been described as being white, aged in their early 20s and wore dark jeans and jackets.

The man who waited outside has been described as being white, aged in his 30s and wore a beige flat cap, a green Parka jacket and dark rimmed glasses.

Anyone with information is asked to call Harlow CID on 101 quoting crime reference 42/72104/19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A HARLOW man has pled guilty to stealing a charity box in a local supermarket.

Michael Bass, aged 33, of Barn Mead, Harlow pled guilty at Chelmsford magistrates court to the following.

On 30/04/2019 at Harlow, stole a charity box, of a value unknown, belonging to ASDA, Harlow.

On 04/05/2019 at Harlow stole three sets of headphones , to the value of £52.97, belonging to TK MAX, Harlow.

Bass was fined £70.00

POLICE officers investigating an aggravated burglary in Harlow, where men impersonated police officers to get into the property say they are still searching for the culprits.

Two men went to an address in Waterhouse Moor between 8.10pm and 8.35pm on Sunday, February 17, and claimed to be police officers investigating a burglary at the address.

The occupants challenged the men and asked to see their identification but they refused and handcuffed a man and woman.

Two other men with their faces covered then entered the property and ransacked the property before all four left in white BMW.

One of the men who knocked on the door has been described as being white, aged in his 20s and wore a high visibility jacket.

The other man has been described as being black, short and of a large build. The remaining suspects wore dark clothing and dark balaclavas.

This week, YH asked Essex Police for an update.

A spokesperson said: “Our current lines of enquiry have been completed and we await the results of forensic examinations. Anyone with information is asked to call Harlow CID on 101 or alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org

SIX men were arrested this week on suspicion of sexual offences in connection with separate investigations in west Essex.

These were:

A 66-year-old man from Harlow was arrested yesterday, Thursday 9 May, on suspicion of sexually assaulting a girl. The offence was alleged to have happened between July 2014 and September 2015 in Harlow and was reported in December 2018.

A 27-year-old man from Grays was arrested on Tuesday 7 May after a woman reported she was assaulted earlier that day and had been raped a number of times over a two year period. He was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault.

A 38-year-old man from Grays was arrested on Tuesday 7 May on suspicion of rape, administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual offence, assault, grievous bodily harm and false imprisonment between May 4 and 7.

A 43-year-old man from Felixstowe was arrested on Wednesday 8 May on suspicion of raping a woman in Brentwood between January 2017 and November 2018. The offence was reported on March 18.

A 29-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested after officers stopped a Volkswagen Touran on the A1089 in Tilbury yesterday, Thursday 9 May. He was arrested on suspicion of raping a woman in Stanford-le-Hope between September 2017 and April 2019 and assaulting her. He was also arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs and driving without insurance.

A 20-year-old man from Purfleet was arrested on Wednesday 8 May on suspicion of raping a woman in Purfleet on April 26. He was also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after he ran from an officer and jumped over a fence, which broke, and possession of drugs with intent to supply, after he was found with suspected cannabis.

Detective Chief Inspector Natalia Ross said: “Our dedicated team of specialist officers investigate some of the most traumatic crimes involving the most vulnerable of victims, such as sexual offences and domestic abuse.

“We do everything we can to pursue and bring offenders to justice, and we supported this ongoing work this week by working with our operational support group and local policing colleagues to search for outstanding suspects.

“We urge victims to not suffer in silence and to report offences to us so that we can investigate and ensure they receive support. However we also understand some may not want to contact the police, so we encourage them to tell someone, whether that’s a close friend or relative, or one of a number of organisations who can provide support and advice.”

For more information, visit https://www.essex.police.uk/advice

Five suspects have been released on conditional bail and the 66-year-old man has been released under investigation while our enquiries continue. In each of the cases, the victims and suspects are known to each other.

CAN you help Essex Police find Jake Wren?

Wren, 23, is wanted for domestic offences, failing to appear at court, and breaches of a court order.

He is 6ft 3ins tall and of slim build. He has short fair hair and was last working as an alarm installer.

A spokesperson said: “We know that Wren was last living in Chingford, but also has links to Harlow, Epping, Ongar, Brentwood, Loughton and Abridge”.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Harlow Domestic Abuse Investigation Team on 101.

Alternatively, you can submit information in complete confidence to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or on their website.

A MAN has been fined over £700 for fly-tipping on the outskirts of Harlow.

Jack Hunt, aged 33, of The Forebury, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire pled guilty to the following.

On or about 25/02/2018 at Matching Tye deposited controlled waste, namely unspecified, in or on land, namely Harlow Road, Matching Tye, Essex, without the authority of a current environmental permit.

Hunt was fined £791.00

A HARLOW man has been fined for failure to turn up for unpaid work as imposed upon him by the courts.

Phillip Hopwood, aged 57, of, Hubbard Hall Estate, Churchgate Street, Old Harlow pled guilty to the following.

Failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of a community order made by Chelmsford Magistrates Court on 04/09/2018 by Mr Hopwood failed to attend unpaid work on 30th and 31 March 2019 as instructed.

He advised his responsible officer that he had a bad back but failed to provide any evidence so the failures remain unacceptable..

He was fined £60.00

MORE than 350 drivers using mobile phones in the South East have been spotted by an unmarked HGV supercab in the past year in a bid to improve safety on the region’s high-speed roads.

The vehicle is one of three supercabs, funded by Highways England, which have travelled thousands of miles since they first took to the road 12 months ago. Police officers inside the vehicles have recorded over 3,500 offences, including a total of over 900 offences in the South East.

Colin Evans, Regional Safety Coordinator in the South East, at Highways England, said:

“Hundreds of thousands of drivers use our roads every day and the vast majority are sensible behind the wheel but some are putting themselves and others at risk.

“We introduced the three new HGV supercabs last year to help keep the roads safe and tackle dangerous driving by people who have either got into bad habits or are simply ignoring the law.

“The cabs have helped to identify over 3,000 unsafe drivers over the past year, and we hope they will encourage everyone to think about what more they could do to improve how they drive.”

The three Highways England supercabs patrol motorways and major A roads across England, and have been used by police forces over the past year including in the South East.

They allow police officers to film evidence of unsafe driving behaviour by pulling up alongside vehicles, and drivers are then pulled over by police cars following a short distance behind.

The supercabs have a derestricted speed limiter which means they can travel at speeds up to the national speed limit, and flashing lights have been installed for use by police forces in an emergency.

Drivers illegally using a mobile phone while driving was the most common offence in the South East, captured by the cabs, with the latest figures showing that mobile phone use is a factor in one death on the roads every 12 days.

The most common offences in the South East included:
using mobile phone – 367
not in proper control of vehicle – 143
not wearing seatbelt – 123
speeding – 54

Police officers in the region issued 93 penalty charge notices and filed 134 traffic offence reports – usually requiring drivers to attend a driver education course. There were also prosecutions for more serious offences.

Nationally, other footage captured using the cabs in their first year included a van driver who was spotted with no hands on the wheel as he used one hand to change gear and the other to hold his mobile phone. The incident happened as he travelled along the A38 near Derby, even though he pulled into a service station to stop just a few seconds later.

The driver of a pick-up truck was also filmed without his hands on the wheel as he travelled along the M60 near Eccles in Greater Manchester. The footage shows the driver with both hands on his phone as he writes a text message.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said:

“Operation Tramline is a successful collaboration between the police and Highways England.

“We remain committed to tackling those who take unnecessary risks with their own safety and the safety of others on our roads by allowing themselves to be distracted while driving. The consequences of these actions are often devastating.

“We will continue to work alongside Highways England on Operation Tramline and will prosecute drivers who ignore the risks.”

Other footage captured using the cabs in their first year included a van driver who was spotted with no hands on the wheel as he used one hand to change gear and the other to hold his mobile phone. The incident happened as he travelled along the A38 near Derby, even though he pulled into a service station to stop just a few seconds later.

The driver of a pick-up truck was also filmed without his hands on the wheel as he travelled along the M60 near Eccles in Greater Manchester. The footage shows the driver with both hands on his phone as he writes a text message.

Tom Cotton, Road Haulage Association’s head of licencing and infrastructure policy, said:

“We need to improve road safety – there’s a small minority of drivers whose actions endanger other road users often with tragic consequences.

“Operation Tramline is an invaluable initiative to help police catch the drivers putting themselves and others at risk.”

Around one in three of the drivers filmed breaking the law by the supercabs had someone in their vehicle not wearing a seatbelt, despite statistics showing that one in four people killed in car crashes in 2017 were not wearing seatbelts.