A MASSIVE police operation using automated number plate recognition in the eastern area of Herts led to 550 drivers being stopped. Some 60 police officers took part in the clampdown – Operation Spiggott – which saw the reading of 25,000 number plates. T

A MASSIVE police operation using automated number plate recognition in the eastern area of Herts led to 550 drivers being stopped.

Some 60 police officers took part in the clampdown - Operation Spiggott - which saw the reading of 25,000 number plates.

The operation covered both North Herts and East Herts and led to seven arrests and 12 vehicles being seized.

Det Chief Insp Paul Ealham said: "This operation has denied criminals the use of road throughout the eastern area.

"It has sent out a clear message to would-be criminals that we will catch you. We will, quite literally, stop you in your tracks," he said.

The technology used in the operation reads the number plate of a vehicle and then checks a variety of computer databases. These include the DVLA database, the Police National Computer and local intelligence databases.

This tells police whether the vehicle is stolen or has been involved in crime.