ONE person has been arrested and five vehicles seized following a roads policing operation in Braintree.

Officers were stopping vehicles in Notley Road and Galleys Corner yesterday, Wednesday, April 5, as part of Operation Nash.

A man was arrested on a European arrest warrant, having been found guilty of two theft offences in Romania and been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

He will be extradited to Romania to serve his sentence.

- A total of 52 people were caught speeding

- Five people had their vehicles seized for having no insurance

- 23 people were found not be wearing a seatbelt

- Seven people had no MOT

- Two were caught using a mobile phone while behind the wheel

- And one driver was found to be supervising a learner while using a mobile phone

- 10 other people were also stopped for other driving offences.

In one instance, a car was stopped for having a cracked window.

On closer inspection, officers found a passenger in the front seat was holding a baby in their arms, there was an unrestrained two year-old child in the back, the vehicle had two bald tyres and the driver was found to have no insurance.

Matt Hine, from Essex Police’s Casualty Reduction Unit, said: "This was a day of action to help keep the roads of Braintree safe.

"However it is still very disappointing that there are so many drivers who still feel they can flaunt the rules of the road.

"By doing so they are putting their safety and that of other road users at risk. It is unacceptable and Essex Police will not tolerate it.

"More than 60 people died on Essex’s Roads last year and more than 950 were seriously injured so we take the issue very seriously.

"I find it baffling that in this day and age people are still willing to endanger themselves and others with their thoughtless actions which can have such serious and far-reaching repercussions.

"I would urge everyone to think carefully about their actions and their responsibilities to all road users when getting into their vehicles.”