Operation Vortex comes to Cheetham Hill

Officers were out in force in Cheetham Hill on Tuesday (16 August 2022) as part of GMP’s vehicle safety initiative, Operation Vortex and to kick off the summer drug and drink driving campaign.

Led by Sgt Lee Keefe and Traffic PCSO Team Leader, Mark Pickford, many motorists travelling through Cheetham Hill on Waterloo Road were stopped and diverted onto Harthill Street, where they were met by a team of specialist officers.

The day delivered fantastic results, with three vehicles seized due to no insurance and driving without a licence, eight people were identified as not wearing a seat belt, two were on their mobile phones whilst driving and 20 were speeding – the highest travelling 45mph in a 30mph zone.

Officers also issued a S59 warning to a motorist driving in an anti-social manner, whilst two others received notices in relation to defective number plates.

As GMP clamps down on drug and drink driving, PC Damian Warner of the Transport Unit provided a stark warning for anyone thinking about getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs – even if taken the night before.

PC Warner said: “If we suspect you of having taken drugs or drunk alcohol, we will either perform a wipe test or ask you to blow into a breathalyser. We are currently seeing more instances of drug driving than we are drink driving.

“If you know you have taken drugs or consumed alcohol and you make the conscious decision to drive, then you are not only putting others in danger, but yourself as well. You really need to take a second and think again.

“If convicted of drink or drug driving, you can expect to have your licence suspended, receive a fine and even go to prison.” PC Luke Warner later provided student officer PC Bell with a tutorial on preparing a breathalyser ready to be used. On the day, the only person subject to a breath test, tested negative.

Sgt Keefe said: “We’ve got a fantastic team of specialist officers here this morning, who are looking out for vehicles that aren’t up to code and anyone committing any traffic offences.

“We run Op Vortex days quite often around Greater Manchester and we can see anything from relatively minor offences to some big ones, including drug and drink driving. Our objective is to ensure that the streets are safe for everyone to drive on.

“We are currently looking for new recruits, such as officers in training, PCs Bell and Gawecki, who have joined us for the first time today and if you are interested in joining us as we work to make Greater Manchester Safer, you can apply to be a police officer via gmp.police.uk/recruitment”.