Police arrest limo hire staff and confiscate limousines

POLICE have seized ten limousines used for take children to school proms, in a clampdown on potentially-dodgy luxury cars.
The move, codenamed Opera-tion Merger, saw traffic police out in force at end-of-term proms across Essex, checking stretch limos booked by youngsters.
As a result of the checks, 66 chauffeurs have been reported for motoring offences.
A total of 35 drivers were ordered not to drive any more that day after being found to have driven more than their hours, or because their vehicles were unroadworthy.
Ten vehicles were siezed after their drivers were found not to have a licence or insurance.
The school prom for Basildon’s Chalvedon School, at Orsett Hall, was one of those raided by police.
Police say too many stretch limos are “cut-and-shut jobs” bits of different vehicles badly welded together in a dangerous fashion.
Such limos are unroadworthy, as they are not built to normal safety standards and could disintegrate in a crash.
Insp Richard Phillibrown, of Essex Police, hailed the recent raids as a success.
He said: “While I have no wish to disrupt the enjoyment of students attending social events, my primary concern is maintaining their safety and that of other road-users.
“The enforcement activity has show significant returns and I intend to continue attempts to work more closely with operators.”
Earlier in the year, Essex Police’s commercial vehicle investigation department wrote to schools, suggesting they warn parents of the risks of hiring limousines.
The force also invited limo operators to a presentation on safety – an event which eventually had to be cancelled, because there was so little interest in attending.