Day one of a two-day road safety operation on the Isle of Wight saw a driver ticketed every five minutes, by officers from the Island's new Roads Policing Unit (RPU).

PCs Mike Alchin and Andy Ball took up their dedicated roles last month, bolstering the efforts of the Island’s pre-existing Roads Policing and Armed Response Vehicle teams (RP/ARV), who are dual skilled in firearms and roads policing tactics.

On Wednesday, November 23 and Thursday, November 24, the RPU and RP/ARV teams conducted Operation Wightwash – two days of enforcement activity, intercepting drivers whose standards fell below the legal requirements.

Wednesday alone saw a driver stopped and ticketed for an offence every five minutes.

Who was stopped during Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary's Operation Wightwash?

During the operation two motorcyclists were arrested in Wootton High Street, on suspicion of drug driving.

One was released with no further action, while the second, an 18-year-old man from Ryde, was released under investigation, while further enquiries are carried out.

In total, across the two days, 89 tickets were given out to motorists on the Isle of Wight.

The majority of offences were for speeding.

Drivers were also stopped for having no insurance, no MOT, and for driving defective vehicles, among other offences.

A further 15 motorists were ticketed for driving without a seatbelt.

Mainland-based RPU officers joined the Isle of Wight team for the operation, bringing with them marked and unmarked cars and motorbikes.

'Committed to keeping our roads safer'

Acting Superintendent Alex Charge said: “We are now the only district in Force that has its own dedicated Roads Policing Unit. PCs Alchin and Ball have already shown how committed they are to keeping our roads safer, and their achievements since stepping into their new roles only a short time ago speak volumes."

The team has been targeting drivers falling foul of the ‘Fatal Four’ – drink/drug driving, driving without a seatbelt, speeding, and using a mobile phone whilst driving.

Act Supt Charge said: "It’s clear the public have concerns around road safety and bad driving.

"We are really driving efforts to tackle this.

"We have purchased extra speed guns to assist in enforcement work, and you can expect to hear much more about what our officers have been up to on the roads."

Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, said: “When I was elected, Island residents told me they had concerns about road safety and bad driving.

"They told me it was a big worry for them and they felt it wasn't being taken seriously. 

"Since being elected in May 2021, I have been committed to recruiting additional officers so that I can get the right resources in the right places. I am delighted to see the Roads Policing Unit on the Island finally in action."