Van seized after fake licence discovered in Eastwood

The man, one of 26 drivers stopped during a joint police and immigration operation in Eastwood on Tuesday September 8, was found to have a forged Portuguese licence.

Under the law, drivers from non-EU countries can drive legally in the UK for 12 months, but after that period they must obtain a full UK or EU licence.

Officers' suspicions were soon confirmed when the Brazilian national gave a date of birth that made him ten years younger than his phoney licence suggested.

The driver admitted the licence was fake and was reported for driving without a licence or insurance, and for producing a fake licence.

Officers from the Roads Policing and Roads Crime Team were joined by colleagues from East Midlands Home Office Immigration and the DVSA for the operation, which took place in and around the A610.

During the morning, around 20 cars and vans were identified by spotters and directed into a nearby inspection site.

Seven vehicles were seized for having no insurance.

Twelve traffic offence reports were issued for offences ranging from tyre defects and MOT contraventions to illegal window tints.

Two drivers were dealt with for using mobile phones at the wheel.

One driver was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving.

Home Office staff also made four arrests for immigration offences.

PC Joshua Gibbons said: "As this van driver has found out to his cost, a photograph of a driving licence that you claim is real is unlikely to fool anyone, especially when it says you're ten years older than you actually are.

"As a result of this deception, he was driving without a licence or insurance and had his van seized.

"We understand the financial pressures that delivery drivers are under, but we absolutely won't allow them to drive and work on our roads illegally or in vehicles that are unsafe.

"That's why we will continue to carry out this kind of targeted operation in the future."