MORE than 80 vehicles were stopped and searched in the second in a serious of pro-active police operations. Five cars were seized and 45 fixed penalty fines were issued near South Mimms service station on Saturday. This follows a similar operation last

MORE than 80 vehicles were stopped and searched in the second in a serious of pro-active police operations.

Five cars were seized and 45 fixed penalty fines were issued near South Mimms service station on Saturday.

This follows a similar operation last Saturday when 47 cars were pulled over - one of which was seized - through Knebworth and Woolmer Green.

The venture was conducted by special constables, who volunteer as police officers, and had recently undergone training with the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.

Offences were recorded for no vehicle tax and insurance, driving while using a mobile phone and failure to wear seatbelts.

ANPR technology targets criminals who use vehicles and has led to the arrest of burglars, robbers and drug dealers in the past.

Inspector Andy Piper said: "ANPR technology has proved itself to be an incredibly useful tool in helping us disrupt criminal activity and deny criminals the use of Hertfordshire's roads.

"Its role in helping us to police the county is only going to increase, so it makes good sense for us to extend this to members of the special constabulary.