The IHTF is funded by Transport for London (TfL) and formed of officers from the Metropolitan Police Service, City of London Police, and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. The dedicated team run regular on-street enforcement operations to help build up an intelligence picture on the most dangerous lorries and operators.
The agency has recently prosecuted two HGV operators and a driver for poor conduct in London. One of the HGV drivers, who worked for Walton Lodge Laundry Ltd, was stopped by the IHTF – in November 2013 – on three separate occasions and in all instances he was found to have withdrawn his tachograph card.
The driver appeared at the City of London Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to all three offences and was fined a total of £405 and made to pay £85 in legal fees.
A KP Waste Limited vehicle was also stopped by the IHTF in November 2013, when the operator was found to be using a HGV without a Goods Vehicle Operators Licence. The operator later appeared at City of London Magistrates Court and was fined £1,008 and made to pay £85 in legal fees.
Meanwhile a Red Lion Scaffolding (London) Limited vehicle was pulled over by the IHTF and found to have allowed a driver to operate their HGV despite not having the correct driving licence to operate the vehicle. They later appeared at City of London Magistrates Court and were fined £400 and made to pay £85 in legal fees.
Commenting on the prosecutions, Steve Burton, TfL’s director of enforcement and on-street operations, said: ‘These are great results for our Industrial HGV Task Force. Although these non-compliant operators and drivers represent a small minority on our streets, we hope this prosecution sends out a clear message that we will continue to protect and secure our roads and push for the toughest penalties for anyone caught operating unlawfully.’
Since the start of the Industrial HGV Task Force in October 2013, over 16,000 vehicles have been targeted and stopped and over 460 fixed penalty notices issued for a variety of offences.