A CAMPAIGN to crack down on law-flouting motorists in the district has made more than 70 arrests and issued over 1,000 penalty notices in the past year.

Officers from Operation Steerside have staged 60 pre-planned intelligence-led ops since March 2020 as part of their effort to rid the roads of illegal and anti-social drivers.

Bosses say there has been a “significant” increase in reports of anti-social use of vehicles across the Bradford district since the start of the pandemic – and that the team has “worked tirelessly” to tackle the problem.

Chief Superintendent Dan Greenwood, Bradford District Commander with West Yorkshire Police, said: “This past year has been like no other in terms of policing due to the pandemic, but I am extremely proud of the results the Operation Steerside team has achieved in difficult circumstances.

“We remain committed to proactively tackling anti-social use of the roads and work closely with our partner agencies to ensure that roads in the Bradford district are safe to use for those living and working in the area and visitors.”

During the year the team issued 1,115 fixed penalty notices, 440 reports for summons for driving offences and 242 section-59 warnings to drivers.

Officers also made 76 arrests and seized 327 vehicles.

In addition to its enforcement activity, the campaign works closely with schools and youth groups to deliver educational initiatives.

That work has been affected by the pandemic and the closure of schools, but ways of restarting using technology are being examined.

Plans are also being developed with course provider TTC to deliver the young driver programme in schools online.

West Yorkshire Police launched Operation Steerside in 2016, specifically to tackle dangerous and anti-social driving in Bradford.

It initially focused on enforcement against the so-called ‘fatal four’ – speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, drink and drug driving and using a mobile phone at the wheel – but its area of work and geographical coverage expanded.

In 2018 it evolved into a multi-agency partnership.

Campaign activities in Keighley have been part-funded by the town council.

Anyone with information about dangerous or anti-social driving can contact the Operation Steerside team via 101 or online.