POLICE from Essex's roads unit are continuing their driver crackdown at lakeside and on approach roads in the run up to Christmas.

Yesterday (Tuesday, 7 December) officers reported a significant number of offences they had detected including 68 speeding incidents and 57 people not wearing incidents.

Four drivers were found not to have licences, two were using a mobile phone and another four has more than the permitted number of people in their vehicles. One driver was arrested.

The police activity is known as 'Operation Christmas Presence and PC Zara Hanson from the Roads Policing Unit, said: "The person arrested was initially stopped for no seatbelt then turned out to be wanted for breaching a court order - this shows the link to crime many traffic stops can have. "Although the figures above can be counted, the wider effect of our high visibility presence around the area will have also had a positive effect in deterring criminals and reassuring the public "It was a shame to again see so many people risking their lives by not wearing a seatbelt - please do this one simple act as your presence is the best present your family could have" Police have recorded the results of their activities. Results of the checks were: o 1 arrest for wanted on warrant

o 68 excess speed in a residential 30mph area

o 57 no seatbelt

o 6 fail to display registration plate

o 4 dangerous condition through manner of carrying passengers (such as more people than seats - an endorsable offence)

o 4 driving without a licence (or provisional unsupervised)

o 1 no insurance

o 3 no MOT

o 2 using a mobile phone whilst driving

o 2 careless driving

o 2 cord exposed on tyre

o 1 vehicle prohibited from driving due to dangerous defects

o 2 cars seized for no insurance/licence Further road checks and patrols will continue throughout the month to try and ensure everyone gets home safely.