ARRESTS for drug possession and motoring offences have been made in Dover during a police operation on Friday.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) teams worked with student officers and motorcycle cops to catch criminals using the A20 near the Port of Dover and A2 at Whitfield.

The operation was part of a national day of action to catch vehicles which activated ANPR cameras.The activation happens when there is information to suggest the car or owner is linked to a crime.

When a vehicle activates a camera, an alert is sent to the ANPR Research Team, based at Kent Police's Force Communications Centre, which then broadcasts details to local patrols. They then stop the vehicle.

During Friday's crackdown a 28-year-old man from Dover was arrested after officers found drugs in his car. His car was seized and he was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class B drugs. He has been released on bail while officers make further enquiries.

Another 28-year-old man was stopped when ANPR indicated his car was uninsured. He was issued with a court summons.

Two further drivers were slapped with fixed penalty notices for having no insurance.

PC Ian Clark, South Kent Roads Policing Officer said: "ANPR technology helps us catch criminals who use the road network as they go about their criminal activities.

"This day of action has finished, but we will continue to use ANPR to target drivers who might be of interest to us so we can disrupt and deter criminals from operating in the Dover district."