FELIXSTOWE: Officers from a range of agencies gave Felixstowe the “short, sharp shock” treatment as they dealt with a range of offences and issues.

FELIXSTOWE: Officers from a range of agencies gave Felixstowe the “short, sharp shock” treatment as they dealt with a range of offences and issues.

Motorists with un-roadworthy vehicles, tax dodgers, and speeders were all brought to book as enforcement officers carried out the surprise sweep.

Other team members cleaned up graffiti and litter, gave help and advice to residents, spoke to shopkeepers about fire regulations, employment of children, and selling alcohol and cigarettes to youngsters, carried out fire safety checks, and found and returned home a runway child.

The five-hour IMPACT operation aimed to further improve working relationships between different agencies, including police, Suffolk Fire and Rescue officers, Trading Standards, and various county and district council departments.

Insp Steve Gallant, of Felixstowe Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This sort of operation is exactly what we should be doing - out there working together in partnership with other agencies and engaging with the public.”

As well as allowing agencies to tackle problems there and then, the sweep was also important for picking up longer-term intelligence on problems or issues.

Members of the roads agency VOSA, traffic police, HM Customs, and the Environment Agency took vehicles off the road into Garrison Lane car park to check them for defects and other offences, while a traffic team gave 51 verbal warnings and six fixed penalty notices to speeding drivers.

Was the operation effective? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk