THREE arrests and 17 fines were carried out by police after stopping 50 vehicles in Oxfordshire last week.

South East Partnership Against Rural Crime conducted an operation around Marcham Weighbridge on February 28 and 29.

They were working with Thames Valley Police’s Rural Crime Task Team, Commercial Vehicle Unit and Environment Agency.

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Dozens of vehicles were checked along the A34 and surrounding roads and over 50 vehicles were stopped.

Two men were arrested for drug driving and one man was arrested for failing to appear in court for a drug driving offence.

Five people were issued a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for no insurance and two cars were seized after the driver was caught using them without third-party insurance.

A stolen trailer reported missing from Milton Keynes recently was identified and recovered and one trailer which was reported stolen from Devon and Cornwall in 2013 was also identified and recovered.

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Three further drivers were dealt with for their vehicle being overweight.

A total of six drivers were issued an FPN for an insecure load and six other drivers were issued an FPN for using their mobile phone whilst driving.

Speaking about the operation on Facebook, Thames Valley Police’s Rural Crime Taskforce said: “Plenty of crime prevention advice was given with owners reminded to record their serial numbers.”