Criminals and illegal drivers will now have even more reason to keep out of Hertfordshire thanks to the launch of a second Operation Sentinel Intercept Team.

The first countywide Automatic Number Plate Recognition, ANPR, Intercept Team, which operates under the force-wide banner for ANPR “Operation Sentinel”, has already proved a success in its first four months, managing to achieve over 240 arrests for a range of offences including burglary, robbery and possessing offensive weapons.

A further 460 seizures have been for unsafe, illegal or uninsured vehicles, so a second team has been introduced by Chief Constable Frank Whitely.

ANPR, is a crime reduction and investigative tool, targeting criminals who use vehicles by reading number plates and comparing them against a variety of databases.

It not only helps to reduce crime, but can be used to decrease the number of road deaths and serious injuries on the roads by highlighting un-roadworthy vehicles.

The second Operation Sentinel Intercept Team was launched on Thursday.

Chief Constable, Frank Whitely, said: “With Operation Sentinel now in full force across the county, we are making effective use of ANPR technology to target offenders and remove unsafe vehicles from the roads on a daily basis.

"The Intercept Team, supported by their local colleagues, has already achieved some fantastic results.

“I'm confident that the introduction of a second team will further bolster our efforts to keep both Hertfordshire residents and road users safe, and will contribute to making Hertfordshire's roads a no-go area for criminals."

The new team comprises of a Sergeant and eight other police officers.

All Intercept Team vehicles, excluding the unmarked vehicles, are marked and as such bear the Operation Sentinel logo.

Operation Sentinel, the county's drive to target criminals and illegal drivers using Hertfordshire's roads with ANPR technology, was launched in June and includes a dedicated Intercept unit, as well as the Force Contact Centre ANPR Focus Desk, road policing officers, local operations by Neighbourhood teams and the Special Constabulary.