Seven people were arrested, more than 100 vehicles were stopped and 95 Traffic Offence Reports issued, during a multi-agency day of action which targeted roads to and from the Shotley peninsula among others.

Nub News reported on Tuesday's Operation Alliance, which had aimed to disrupt and frustrate the activities of criminals, including organised crime groups, who commit offences across county borders while using the road network.

This was intelligence-led and involved vehicles identified as being potentially involved in criminality being brought back to a check site at the Tesco truck stop, near to the A12/A14 Copdock Mill Interchange, where police and partner agencies conducted checks of the vehicles and occupants.

Officers are also focused on all-round road safety and the fatal four offences of drink/drug driving, driving whilst using a mobile phone, speeding, and not wearing a seatbelt.

Anyone suspected of committing any of these offences was also stopped, along with people driving vehicles which were unroadworthy or had a defect. All of these actions serve towards making the county's roads safer and reduce the likelihood of someone being killed or seriously injured by an illegally/unsafely driven or defective vehicle.

Under the banner of Operation Alliance, the Joint Roads and Armed Policing Team were assisted by Specialist Operations colleagues from across the Seven Force Collaboration Programme area, which comprises Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Kent. This was part of a four-day operation with a different county hosting each day.

They were joined by officers from the Road Casualty Reduction Team, Commercial Vehicle Unit, Police Dog Unit, Sentinel Team, Local Policing Team and Safety Camera Team.

Partner agencies present included the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS); Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), Environment Agency; Ipswich Borough Council; and Tilly Trailers.

Seven people were arrested, including two following an incident where a vehicle failed to stop in Yarmouth Road and the occupants ran off and went into the River Gipping. The vehicle contained UK Power Networks equipment which is suspected to have been stolen from Sussex.

107 vehicles were escorted back to the check site, with just 13 leaving clear of any offences. Two other vehicles were dealt with by officers offsite.

A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance; and a 19-year-old man on suspicion of theft, after a vehicle failed to stop for police near the junction of Yarmouth Road and London Road in Ipswich. They were initially taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre (PIC) and then later transferred into the custody of Sussex Police, for questioning in connection with a burglary.

A 39-year-old man from the Norwich area was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving and possession of cannabis with intent to supply. He was taken to Martlesham PIC for questioning and subsequently released under investigation pending further enquiries.

Three other men were arrested on suspicion of drug-driving and the final arrest was a man on suspicion of driving whilst disqualified.

95 Traffic Offence Reports were issued, including: 15 for an overweight vehicle; 14 for Dangerous Condition; 10 for Registration Plate offences; nine for No Seatbelt; seven for no MOT; six for driving without a licence; five for no insurance; five for an insecure load; four for tinted windows; four for brakes; four for tachograph offences; three for exhausts; two for careless driving; and other offences including driving whilst using a Mobile Phone and contravening a red light.

11 vehicles were seized and fines totalling £5,600 were issued for overweight vehicles and £1,300 for tachograph offences.

68 people were breathalysed – all of which were negative - and 24 people were tested for drugs, four of which were positive (as per arrest details above). The Suffolk Safety Camera Partnership deployed to roads in the surrounding area, detecting a total of 37 speeding offences.

The DVSA issued 12 immediate prohibitions - taking those vehicles off the road straight away – 14 delayed prohibitions and 10 advisory notices. The DVLA clamped 10 vehicles for no tax and recovered £1,600 in fines.

The GLAA gathered a number of intelligence reports; NaVCIS made checks on all vehicles brought to the check sire; Environment Agency issued 10 waste advisory notices and four enforcement notices; and Tilly Trailers conducted checks on all vehicles with trailers and issued advice.

Inspector Gary Miller of the Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: "The results of this day speak for themselves and the fact that 94 of the 107 vehicles brought back to the check site recorded an offence of some description is staggering, but also demonstrates the very targeted approach we take.

"The primary focus of these days is to disrupt criminality using the road network and to stop a vehicle in connection with a burglary in Sussex and make two arrests as a result was a highlight, as was the arrest in connection with the supply of cannabis.

"We are grateful to our colleagues in the Seven Forces Collaboration Programme and all the partner agencies for helping to make Operation Alliance so successful."

Tim Passmore, Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk, said: "I was extremely impressed to see first-hand the scale of this operation which was based at the strategically important junction of the A14 and the A12 at Copdock.

"Keeping Suffolk's roads safe and free flowing is important for both residents and businesses and our roads policing unit has a pivotal role in helping to achieve this. I really would like to congratulate them and the other agencies who contributed to make this operation such a success."