Police prosecute thousands of drivers for road offences as massive crackdown will 'remain ongoing'

Felix Reeves
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:16:35 +0000

Thousands of drivers have been targeted in a massive police operation to crack down on dangerous and illegal motorists.

West Yorkshire Police has confirmed that more than 2,500 illegal drivers were identified by the police within a 12-month operation as part of Operation Trimburg.

The force's Roads Policing Unit have pledged to continue the operation after a successful first year of operation.

Action from the police between March 2025 and March 2026 saw 2,632 prosecutions as part of Operation Trimburg patrols.

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This included a staggering 654 people not wearing their seatbelts, 561 speeding drivers, 165 using their mobile phone, and 134 driving without due care and attention.

West Yorkshire Police launched the targeted operations across Kirklees, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Mirfield, Golcar, Liversedge and Cleckheaton.

The Roads Policing Team focused specifically on roads highlighted as safety concern hotspots following complaints from local residents.

Operation Trimburg will remain focused on the so-called "Fatal Five" offences, which are the most common causes of serious and fatal road incidents.

Offences featured in the Fatal Five include not wearing a seatbelt, drink and drug driving, using a mobile phone, speeding and careless driving.

Chief Inspector Rebecca Calpin of Kirklees Police said: "Operation Trimburg was established to provide a dedicated and long-term response to residents' concerns about poor driving in parts of Kirklees.

"Due to its impact, it now operates across the whole district, and I want to thank our colleagues at the Roads Policing Unit for their continuing support."

She noted that road condition remains a "key concern" for communities across West Yorkshire and the police.

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"The number of motorists prosecuted and vehicles seized demonstrates how successful and necessary this operation has been, and it will remain ongoing on our roads in the coming months," Chief Inspector Calpin added.

During the 12 months of Operation Trimburg, 35 arrests were made for motorists breaking a range of driving laws.

This included 11 for drink or drug driving, eight for driving while disqualified and four for dangerous driving.

A total of 72 cars and other vehicles were seized by West Yorkshire Police as part of the enforcement, prompting the extension of the operation.

Chief Inspector James Farrar, head of West Yorkshire Police's Roads Policing Unit, said drivers should be "under no illusions" that if they break the Fatal Five rules, they will be prosecuted.

He emphasised the dangers associated with the five driving mistakes, noting that the police were cracking down on these offences in particular.

Chief Inspector Farrar continued, saying: "We will continue to do all we can to educate and, where necessary, enforce safer motoring, but also encourage anyone who has information about dangerous driving to contact us.

"Our dedicated Operation Snap online portal also remains open and can be used to send us footage of illegal driving."