A number of defects were found by road policing officers conducting road safety checks on coaches in a recent operation in Great Yarmouth.

On Saturday 17 July 2010, road policing officers, SNT officers, Special Constables and officers from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), conducted an operation in Beach Road Coach Park, Great Yarmouth targeting coaches and other forms of transport being used to take people to their holiday destinations.

This operation was part of a nationwide campaign run by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

The operation took place between 10am and 3:15pm and of all the coaches examined;

• 11 were subjected to immediate prohibition due to defects
• 1 coach was subjected to a delayed prohibition
• 1 other vehicle was subjected to an immediate prohibition.
• 1 vehicle was seized under section 165 of the Road Traffic Act (no insurance)
• 1 person was reported for possession of an offensive weapon.

There were also numerous other offences identified (including seat belts/ mobile phones) and dealt with which were not directly linked to this operation.

Sgt Paul Sturman, who led the operation said, "Norfolk Constabulary officers take a strong stance against operators using vehicles which are unroadworthy as we believe that these could represent a potential danger to the general public who use them."