A MAN was arrested for possession of a loaded weapon as part of a crackdown by police across the region.

Hertfordshire Constabulary joined forces with six other police services in an operation on the main routes through the county, including the A1(M).

Operation Utah as it was called was led by Hertfordshire’s sergeant Grant Finnie and included more than 150 officers and staff from Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and the Metropolitan Police.

Nine arrests were made for possession of a loaded air weapon, possessing identity documents with intent, breach of bail conditions, obtaining a licence while disqualified and driving while disqualified.

Nine unsafe or illegal vehicles were seized for having no insurance, being unroadworthy or the driver not having a licence.

Nineteen fixed penalty notices were also handed out for offences including using a mobile phone while driving.