28 Drivers Reported During Police Safety Checks At Stansted Airport

Police officers reported 28 drivers for motoring offences and seized two uninsured vehicles during a vehicle safety operation at London Stansted Airport.

The checks were carried out in Thremhall Avenue on 29 April by officers from the Stansted Airport Neighbourhood Policing Team, alongside roads policing officers, the Commercial Vehicle Unit and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

A total of 50 vehicles were stopped during the operation, which mainly focused on taxis and private hire vehicles travelling to and from the airport.

PC Ross Ashcroft said: “Our priority is keeping people safe – not just at the terminal but on the surrounding roads as well.

“The vast majority of drivers of private hire vehicles and taxis are law-abiding and keep their vehicles well maintained.

“But there are a few who ignore the laws which help to keep them, their passengers and other road-users safe and it’s those few we are looking out for.”

Drivers were reported for offences including having no insurance, not wearing seatbelts and using illegally modified number plates, often known as “ghost plates”.

PC Ashcroft added: “I was disappointed that we had to seize two vehicles for being uninsured.”

Licensing officers from Uttlesford, Braintree, Chelmsford, Harlow and Wolverhampton councils also took part to ensure taxi and private hire drivers were correctly licensed.

Police say further safety operations will be carried out in the future to help protect passengers travelling to and from the airport.