POLICE have stopped more than 300 vehicles in the eastern region during an operation to target motorists driving vehicles with illegal number plates.

The operation ran throughout six counties between July 16 and August 5, with 38 vehicles being stopped in Suffolk, 49 in Norfolk and 19 in Cambridgeshire.

Codenamed Operation Dragon, it was part of wider policing arrangements to support security in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics.

Drivers with non-standard registration plates were targeted by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.

Inspector Colin Bonner, from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire roads policing unit said: “ANPR is a significant weapon in our bid to fight crime and protect the public.

“Using this technology the police across the region are helping to remove serious criminals from the roads, as well as unsafe and uninsured drivers and vehicles. Those who are using an illegal number plate on their vehicle will be pulled over and could face a fine of up to �1,000. “All drivers should ensure that their number plates meet the requirements of the DVLA.”

It is the second operation of its kind and police have said it significantly contributed to a decrease in crime levels, reduction of road traffic casualties and limited the number of unsafe drivers using the roads.

Out of the 303 cars which were stopped, 101 of them were in Hertfordshire and 65 in Bedfordshire.