These were the scenes outside Burnham-On-Sea’s Tesco supermarket on Monday (April 6th) when dozens of police held a police operation targeting criminals.
The operation focused on outstanding offenders, anti-social behaviour and vehicles, which were either stolen, untaxed or uninsured.
A key focus of the operation was monitoring routes into and out of Burnham to deny criminals the use of the roads.
Automatic Number Plate recognition equipment was used at key routes into Burnham, with vehicles stopped if they were believed to be stolen, untaxed, uninsured or if it was believed they were in an unroadworthy condition.
Officers monitored routes including Coast Road at Brean, the A38 at West Huntspill and Love Lane in Burnham, resulting in the issue of eight fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for vehicles without insurance or tax, and six vehicles being seized for being uninsured.
Officers were also in holiday hotspots to provide crime reduction advice and public reassurance for both tourists and local residents.
Speaking after the operation, Inspector Sam Williams told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Most people are law-abiding but there are a small number who think they can engage in criminal activity and get away with it.”
“Officers have been out today to ensure that the residents and visitors to the area are safe over the holiday season and to identify and target those persons who either live or visit with the intention or inclination of committing crime and harming the communities quality of life.”
“Often whilst on holiday crime is not something many think about, and understandably so as this is a very low crime area, however with a few simple measures and actions, we can make it even lower, ensuring no opportunities exist for offences to be committed, and promptly identifying and targeting those who may try regardless.”
Inspector Williams went on to say: “Neighbourhood policing teams are committed to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and the local community can help us with that. I would encourage anyone with information about people or places they believe are involved in crime to come forward and contact police. When we receive information we will act upon it wherever we can. Anyone with information should contact Avon & Somerset police on 0845 456 7000.”
“This forms the first of many operations over the coming months whereby, on top of the everyday work being completed across the area, I will bring together all our available Resources, Support and Partners across the Neighbourhood Area to tackle a particular issue identified by the Community, through the Partners and Communities Together process, as affecting their quality of life.”
Further operations will be undertaken in the future.
