HUNDREDS of motorists were pulled over by police in a “ring of steel” operation to take illegal drivers and suspected criminals off the roads.

To coincide with a weekend of action across the UK, Southampton’s force of volunteer Special Constables joined officers from the roads policing unit at three spots across the city.

More than 200 cars were stopped in the day-long operation, with 14 towed away and taken off the road as a result. Using number plate recognition cameras, the teams were stopping vehicles which were either known for previous offences or being driven without insurance or tax.

The ‘Ring of Steel’ approach formed part of Operation Sargasso which saw drivers stopped at Cobden Bridge, Bitterne, Burgess Road in Bassett and Lordshill Way, Lordshill.

After checks on the insurance and licence details police issued 20 “producers”, meaning drivers have to report to their nearest police station with all their driver documents within seven days.

Some drivers were breathalysed and officers found three cars containing illegal drugs after searches by sniffer dogs. Special District Officer Steve Perry – in charge of the city’s special constables – said the areas were selected as routes which join different parts of the city and to capture the most number of drivers and raise awareness of the operation.

“It was a very successful day for us and we’re well in a position now to do something similar in the future,” he said.

“The aim was to find people driving without insurance, tax or a driving licence, and also to pick up people who will be using these routes to move drugs.

“All the Specials involved, both the experienced and inexperienced, rose to the challenge and gained a lot from it.

“We’re very pleased and I think Southampton has set the benchmark for the rest of Hampshire to try and follow.”