NCJ Number
54403
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 52 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY-MARCH 1979) Pages: 66-71
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
ACTIVITIES OF THE TRAFFIC DIVISION OF THE KENT COUNTY CONSTABULARY IN ENGLAND WITH REGARD TO ROAD HAULAGE LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
TWO CONSTABLES FROM THE DIVISION WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY IN 1975 TO SEE IF THEY COULD COMBAT SOME OF THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF HAULAGE FIRMS. AS A START, THEY ARRANGED FOR DETAILS OF ALL STOP CHECKS ON FREIGHT VEHICLES WITHIN THE COUNTY TO BE SENT TO THEM. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN OPERATING SECOND-HAND CAR SALES AND SCRAP METAL BUSINESSES WERE TRANSFERRING THEIR INTERESTS INTO THE HAULAGE BUSINESS. THE CONSTABLES STARTED TO PURSUE SOME OF THE MORE PROTRACTED INVESTIGATIONS ON BEHALF OF PATROL OFFICERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO HANDLE THEM. IN THIS WAY, THE CONSTABLES WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY CERTAIN ACTIVITIES OF HAULAGE COMPANIES AND BRING THEIR INVESTIGATIONS TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. LIAISON WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE POSTAL RECEIVING SECTION OF THE LOCAL TAXATION OFFICE, AFTER IT HAD BEEN DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE A LARGE NUMBER OF STOLEN TEST CERTIFICATES CIRCULATING IN THE COUNTY. IN FEBRUARY 1977, THE TRAFFIC DIVISION WAS FORMALLY ESTABLISHED AS THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT (TEU). EACH OF THE COUNTY'S FIVE TRAFFIC AREAS HAS TWO CONSTABLES ENGAGED ON A FULL-TIME BASIS. A BACKUP TEAM OF THREE CONSTABLES, A SERGEANT, AND AN INSPECTOR ARE STATIONED AT TEU HEADQUARTERS. THE TEU IS ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATE IRREGULARITIES IN THE DOCUMENTATION OF ROAD HAULAGE VEHICLES, TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SALE OF UNROADWORTHY VEHICLES, TO INVESTIGATE DOCUMENT IRREGULARITIES, AND TO CONTINUE INQUIRIES INTO ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SALE OF UNROADWORTHY VEHICLES REFERRED TO THE TEU FOR INVESTIGATION TAKE THE FORM OF AN EXAMINATION OF THE VEHICLE CONCERNED, ALONG WITH AN INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TEU AND THE COMPLAINANT. VARIOUS FILES AND INDEXES ARE MAINTAINED AT HEADQUARTERS OF TRAFFIC AREAS THAT DEAL WITH STOLEN AND FORGED DOCUMENTS, CAR DEALERS AND PERSONS WHO HABITUALLY SELL UNROADWORTHY VEHICLES, AND TRAFFIC INTELLIGENCE. ROAD CHECKS ARE AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION OF THE TEU. (DEP)