MORE than 100 drivers were pulled over by police in Dorset on Tuesday in a large-scale operation aimed at denying criminals the use of the roads.

Using sophisticated Automatic Number Plate Recognition Technology (ANPR), officers from seven police forces took part in a day of action.

The aim of Operation Utah was to send out a hard-hitting message to criminals: "There's nowhere to hide".

When a suspicious vehicle was spotted, police units pulled it over and carried out thorough checks on the vehicle and its occupants.

ANPR systems instantly check up to 3,000 vehicles an hour against various databases of intelligence. This includes information provided by police officers, Crimestoppers, the DVLA and other forces about vehicles driven by people suspected of committing crime, wanted on warrant and those by disqualified drivers.

In total, more than 100 vehicles were stopped on the A31 and led to an inspection bay at Avon Heath Country Park. There the vehicles and occupants were checked by police officers, accompanied by representatives from other agencies including the Border and Immigration Agency, HM Revenue and Customs, the DVLA and the Environment Agency.

The day involved 96 police officers from Dorset Police, Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Gwent, Devon and Cornwall, Thames Valley and Hampshire.

Early figures revealed that 20 vehicles had been seized from motorists found driving with no insurance or without a licence. Twelve people were arrested for a range of offences such as possession of drugs, disqualified driving, fraud, driving stolen vehicles and theft.

Dorset Police Traffic Inspector Shaun Cronin said those drivers who had their vehicles seized were given directions to the nearby bus stop. Alternative arrangements were made for vulnerable drivers such as people with children or the disabled.

Insp Cronin added: "We are not out here to beat up the motorist. Criminals do not get the bus, they drive cars.

"This is about targeting the crooks who use cars.

"With ANPR, there is literally nowhere to hide - we use mobile as well as fixed units, meaning criminals can never second guess when we are watching.

"ANPR technology means that we can identify people wanted for a whole range of offences, from possession of drugs to benefit fraud."

He added: "We have had a very successful day, seizing vehicles from uninsured and unlicensed drivers as well as arresting people wanted for other offences."

Superintendent Tony Godwin of Gloucestershire Police said: "This is the first big operation we have run involving all the seven police forces and is definitely not a one-off.

"We will be coming to a neighbourhood near you in the future."