13764/3DESPITE the insistence of Wiltshire police that ordinary motorists were not being targeted in their recent crackdown on travelling criminals, a driver from Bolton in Greater Manchester found himself making the long trip home without his car last Thursday.

The 60-year-old man was one of those stopped at a checkpoint at Bay Bridges, on the A346 north of Marlborough, by police looking for criminals who travel the country preying on elderly people, often getting into their homes on the pretence of being from "the council" or "the water board."

Although the police are not suggesting that the man was involved in this sort of crime, it was found that he had no road tax, MoT certificate or insurance for the car he was driving. Police also discovered he had been driving without ever having had a driving licence.

The man, who was returning home after a fishing trip, was not allowed to continue his journey by car.

The Bay Bridges checkpoint was in operation between 10am and 5pm last Thursday and, out of a total of 3,252 vehicles that passed through, 78 were checked after flashing up on the police intelligence system and 40 drivers will be required to produce their driving documents at their local police stations.

Two vehicles had been involved in distraction burglaries and three in drugs offences. A police spokesman said that, although no arrests were made, a lot of useful intelligence was gleaned from the exercise, which could eventually lead to prosecutions.

The Bay Bridges checkpoint was just one of many set up throughout the region and Acting Inspector Ian Partington said it was part of an ongoing operation. He said: "We are looking to try to deny criminals the use of their vehicles to further their activities. We want to know where they're going and why they're going there.

"We are not targeting Mr Average. We have a shrewd idea of the kind of vehicles we are looking for and we want to assure the ordinary motorist that this is not aimed at him.

"This is not a question of spot checks. We are aiming to stop the criminals who are preying on vulnerable people by cutting off their means of getting about. They will now know that we are actively looking for them and they will never know when they are likely to be pulled over and questioned."

Wiltshire County Council's trading standards officers were also present at the checkpoint in their continuing fight against the "black economy". They said they had gained useful intelligence from the operation as well as handing out leaflets explaining regulations covering self-employment.