Operation leaves criminals with nowhere to hide

An innovative partnership set up to target criminals as they use the road network has demonstrated the integral role of roads policing in tackling offenders who damage communities both on and off the roads.

Operation Topaz is a partnership between the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the Department for Transport (DfT), supported by the Home Office which explores how greater collaboration can enable roads policing to tackle criminality and improve road safety.

Twelve police forces delivered coordinated activity under Op Topaz during Summer 2025 including a focus on offenders wanted for violence against women and girls, partnership work to remove illegal e-bikes and scooters from the roads and individuals involved in drugs supply and theft.

2,141 vehicles were stopped, either due to driving behaviour or intelligence highlighting involvement in criminal activity. 314 vehicles totalling including e-bikes and quad bikes, were seized and 13 stolen vehicles recovered.

Forces who focussed activity on tackling violence against women and girls resulted in 49 arrests for serious offences including domestic-related kidnap and threats to kill, rape, affray, stalking and harassment, coercive control and assaults.

201 individuals were arrested in total, and as evidenced above, many were found to have committed a number of offences in addition to their driving behaviour.

Coordination and Tasking Lead for Op Topaz, T/Superintendent Matt Willmot, explains:

“When we stop a vehicle, for example due to a possible defect or as a result of dangerous driving behaviour, we will often uncover additional criminality and this Op Topaz activity supported forces to really test this theory with impactful results.

“Coordinating and sharing intelligence across teams and across borders into neighbouring forces has also resulted in targeted activity leading to arrests of wanted offenders and many dangerous individuals removed from our communities. A vehicle can be a valuable intelligence source, with many offenders believing that leaving their known home address will help them evade capture. Bringing together all available intelligence means offenders quite simply have nowhere to hide.”

Chief Constable Jo Shiner is National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing. She said:

“The Operation Topaz Summer of Action has been a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the cross-cutting capability of roads policing in tackling crime both on and off the roads. We can now share these learnings and further develop our national capability to continue delivering safer streets through safer roads.”

Twelve police forces across the country received additional government funding via the NPCC Roads Policing portfolio, to coordinate activity under Op Topaz and enhance the capabilities of roads policing teams.

Case study
Merseyside Police’s activity brought together roads policing and specialist teams, using predictive Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and intelligence-led tactics to locate, intercept, and arrest individuals who pose a serious threat to women and girls. In just one week of activity the team arrested 19 offenders on suspicion of a total of 42 offences, including domestic related kidnap, domestic violence, harassment, threats to kill, drug offences, and assault — demonstrating the effectiveness of this targeted approach in protecting vulnerable individuals and preventing further harm.

Among the 19 arrested were six offenders who had been wanted for serious domestic abuse offences including a man who had been wanted since September 2023 for a range of offences including possession of a firearm

National results

Overall results of Op Topaz ‘Summer of Action’ activity:

• 2,141 Vehicles stop-checked under s163 powers
• 201 Arrests
• 314 Vehicles, including e-bikes and quad bikes, seized from the streets
• 1,126 TORs/Summons
• 13 Stolen vehicles recovered
• 337 Imported, dangerous & unlawful e-mobility devices seized/detained at the port of entry

Overall table of arrests by offence during Op Topaz ‘Summer of Action’ activity

• 63 Drink/ drug drive arrests
• 19 Possession with intent to supply (drugs)
• 5 Weapons
• 8 Dangerous driving
• 15 Wanted on warrant / bail offences
• 12 Theft
• 24 Assault
• 8 Immigration offences
• 4 Threats to kill
• 13 Stalking & harassment
• 2 Kidnap
• 3 Controlling & coercive behaviour
• 9 Additional offences including rape, affray, witness intimidation, identity fraud, witness intimidation, breach of Sexual Harm Prevention Order, burglary, firearms offences