Over the recent Bank Holiday weekend, as part of an ongoing road safety programme, roads policing units continued their efforts to promote road safety and reduce the number of casualties on our roads.

Officers across Dyfed-Powys spent the weekend providing high visibility patrols and focusing activity around motorcycles, and concentrated on the main routes used by motorcyclists riding through the force area.

Dedicated roads policing officers conducted Op Darwen over full 12-hour periods, many at short notice over the bank holiday. They utilised marked and unmarked cars and motorcycles during the operation. Officers experienced very positive engagement with motorcyclists in various sites where motorcyclists tend to congregate.

As well as engagement and education, enforcement activity also took place where appropriate, and some of the notable results were as follows:

• A number of Section 59 notices and verbal warnings were issued to motorcyclists in the Dyfi forestry. Bikers were cleared from the area and Natural Resources Wales notified.

• A motorcycle was seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act, no licence.

• Seven Section 59 notices issued to motorcyclists.

• Sixteen fixed penalty notices issued for incorrectly displayed number plates.

• Eight traffic offence reports submitted for excess speed.

• Two traffic offence reports submitted for contravening solid white lines.

• One fixed penalty notice issued for no MOT.

• Two motorcyclists arrested for positive drug wipes.

Car drivers were also dealt with robustly during the operation, with examples as follows:

• Three traffic offence reports issued for no insurance.

• One arrest for disqualified driving.

• Six traffic offence reports issued for excess speed.

• Two traffic offence reports issued for no seatbelt.

• One fixed penalty notice for no MOT.

• Two traffic offence reports issued for driving whilst on mobile phone.

• Two warnings for cannabis possession.

• One arrest for drink driving.

Officers involved were pleased to note that there were no fatal or serious motorcycle collisions over the weekend, which made it a successful operation for all involved.

Roads Policing Inspector Mike Melly said: “Road safety and casualty reduction on our roads is a priority for Dyfed-Powys Police. Operation Darwen provides an opportunity for officers to engage with and educate motorcyclists, and other road users, to prevent tragedies. Patrolling our roads in this way is about saving lives. I am very grateful to those officers who worked on to cover the operation, and to those who worked at short notice - and it is pleasing that thankfully there were no serious or fatal motorcycle collisions following the successful operation. Operation Darwen will be ongoing throughout the summer months.”