Operation Invigor: Police Find Multiple Offences in Lancashire Lorry Checks
A lorry stopped in Lancashire as part of Operation Invigor was found to be overweight, had no brakes on its rear axle, and its driver was arrested after failing a cannabis drug test. The vehicle was prohibited from continuing its journey, and the driver was later released pending further enquiries.
Operation Invigor, which ran from 28 January to 6 February, aimed to tackle illegal immigration and human trafficking. Although no evidence of these offences was found, police reported that over 40% of the lorries stopped were committing serious road traffic offences.
These offences included:
- Overloaded vehicles
- Mobile phone use at the wheel
- Failure to wear seatbelts
- Suspected drug driving
Mechanical defects and insecure loads
One mobile crane stopped during the operation was found to have been untaxed since 2015.
The 35-year-old driver arrested for drug driving was later released, but his lorry remains at DVSA Cuerden awaiting proper registration, legal authority, and brake repairs.
Lancashire Police: “Our Priority is Public Safety”
Sergeant Peter Snook, from Lancashire Police’s Specialist Operations Commercial Vehicle Unit, emphasised the importance of such checks.
“Our objective is always to keep Lancashire’s communities and roads safe by reducing the number of people who choose to break the law whilst driving.”
During the operation, 200 vehicles and trailers were inspected with support from DVSA, Home Office Border Force, and intelligence teams. While no human trafficking or modern slavery offences were identified, authorities stressed that work in this area remains a priority.
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