A CRACKDOWN on vehicle tax dodgers, which used the latest technology to catch cheats red-handed, has been hailed a success.

The month-long campaign targeted tax evaders who cost communities in the West Mercia Police area £4.5m a year.

Stingray cameras recorded untaxed vehicles on the region's roads, with the DVLA wheelclamping 198 offenders.

Eighty-eight owners paid a £200 release fee while the remaining 110 vehicles - many of which were unroadworthy - were crushed.

The scheme provided a number of other benefits to the force.

"During road checks mounted as part of the campaign in March, 12 people were arrested for criminal activities and serious motoring offences," said Road Police Team Inspector David Perridge.

"These included two men believed to have been involved in a robbery in the Hereford area. Details of their vehicle had been circulated and it was spotted at one of the checkpoints."

In addition, two people were arrested in Worcestershire and Herefordshire for driving while disqualified and another for perverting the course of justice.

More than 100 other offences were discovered across the West Mercia region, including the use of unroadworthy vehicles and driving without insurance.

"It's often the case that untaxed vehicles have no MoT certificate and present a danger to their drivers and to other road users because they are not in a fit state to be out on the road," said Insp Perridge. "This was underlined by these figures."

John Moore, enforcement manager for the DVLA, was also pleased with the results of the scheme.

"This partnership campaign was highly successful," he said.

"Early indications show that many motorists heeded the warnings publicised during the run-up to the enforcement phase and licensed their vehicles.

"Motorists who have been wheel-clamped and caught on the DVLA cameras have faced much higher penalties than the fees involved in buying their road tax."

Police across Worcestershire and Herefordshire have followed up the "Stingray" operation by helping launch two safety initiatives involving fixed-speed cameras and a force helicopter.