A major crackdown on illegal drivers in England has resulted in more than 2,500 offenders being caught in just 12 months. The ongoing operation, aimed at making roads safer, has been particularly active in Yorkshire.
Operation Trimburg: A Year of Action
West Yorkshire Police, specifically the Kirklees district and the force's Roads Policing Unit, have committed to the ongoing Operation Trimburg campaign. This initiative targets dangerous and illegal drivers and has been running for a busy 12 months.
Between March 2025 and March 2026, Trimburg patrols and days of action led to 2,632 prosecutions. These included 561 speeding drivers and 654 drivers caught not wearing seatbelts. Additionally, 165 people were caught using mobile phones while driving, and 134 were prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.
Arrests and Vehicle Seizures
Over the same period, 35 arrests were made, including 11 for drink or drug driving, eight for driving while disqualified, and four for dangerous driving. A total of 72 cars and other vehicles were seized during the 12 months.
Community Focus
Officers carried out patrols in communities including Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Mirfield, Golcar, Liversedge, and Cleckheaton. These patrols focused on roads highlighted as road safety concern hotspots by residents.
Police Statements
Chief Inspector Rebecca Calpin of Kirklees Police said: “Operation Trimburg was established to provide a dedicated and long-term response to residents’ concerns about poor driving in parts of Kirklees. Due to its impact, it now operates across the whole district, and I want to thank our colleagues at the Roads Policing Unit for their continuing support.”
She added: “Poor driving on our roads has been a key concern for communities and us as the officers that police them, and that is why we base these deployments on feedback from residents. The number of motorists prosecuted and vehicles seized demonstrates how successful and necessary this operation has been, and it will remain ongoing on our roads in the coming months.”
Chief Inspector James Farrar, head of West Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, commented: “Drivers must be under no illusions that if they speed, drive carelessly, do not use a seatbelt, use a mobile while driving, or drive under the influence of drink and drugs and are caught, they will be prosecuted.”
He continued: “Fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions are absolute tragedies for affected families, and we and partners desperately want to see the numbers of these incidents reduce. That is why we remain so focused on reducing these five offence types, which we know are the key causes of the serious incidents we see on our roads. We will continue to do all we can to educate and where necessary enforce safer motoring, but also encourage anyone who has information about dangerous driving to contact us.”
