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Police deal with the driver of a car which was picked out by the Automatic Number Plate Recognition camera

Ten known criminals were targeted as police carried out a major operation to disrupt gang-related activity in Keighley.

In a five-hour-long crackdown police officers stopped vehicles and quizzed drivers.

At least 24 officers were involved in the operation, which focused on the main roads surrounding Lawkholme, Showfield, Highfield and Knowle Park.

Insp Wayne Horner, of the Keighley neighbourhood policing team, said officers were reacting to calls from local people to take criminals and their cars off the streets.

He said: "Historically Keighley has suffered from a certain amount of gang-related disorder.

"These gangs are not going out and targeting innocent members of the public but tend to clash with each other, which causes concern.

"The people we are going after tend to use high-powered prestige vehicles which are often not insured. We want to deny criminals use of the roads."

Police used two sets of Automatic Numberplate Recognition software (ANPR) to identify suspect vehicles. The mass surveillance method is used to detect uninsured vehicles, stolen cars or cars which are thought to have been used to help commit other crimes.

PC Darren Lewis operates the Automatic Number Plate Recognition equipment.

The operation last Thursday saw five vehicles seized because they were not insured. Officers also raided a Keighley property while executing a drugs warrant.

Later a West Yorkshire Police spokesman said ten "known criminals" were disrupted during the afternoon. This involved the police stopping their vehicles and questioning the suspects about their activities.

The spokesman added the ANPR equipment was able to scan a total of nearly 7,700 number-plates. A police briefing delivered shortly before the crackdown began said as well as disrupting gang-related activity it would gather intelligence and reassure residents with a highly visible police presence.

Insp Horner added: "A lot of community engagement has taken place in which people have turned round and said we're aware of the problems and we want you to come and deal with them'.

"This is the second time we've run this type of operation.

"The response was very good the first time we did it. Within 10 minutes we had a (vehicle) pursuit so we obviously spooked the right person.".

8:03am Thursday 7th August 2008

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