A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving.

Two vehicles were also seized during a road safety operation in Thurrock last week.

Officers from the Casualty Reduction Unit worked with colleagues from the Safer Essex Roads Partnership on Thursday, July 14, to detect offenders using the roads and increase road safety.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology was used to identify suspect vehicles which were then intercepted and taken to sop-check sites on Lodge Lane and at the Moto Services on the M25.

During the operation, a 42-year-old man from Grays was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and possession of class B or C drugs at Lodge Lane at 9.50am.

He received a caution for possession of cannabis and has been released on bail pending investigations until August 27 for the suspected drug driving offence.

A total of 33 people were dealt with for failing to wear a seatbelt and 30 drivers were spotted using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

Two vehicles were seized because their drivers didn’t have appropriate insurance and three were found not to have a valid MOT.

Two drivers were found to be driving otherwise than in accordance with the terms of their licence and six drivers were dealt with for committing offences for the length of time they had been driving without taking a break. Those drivers received fines totalling £910.

Sgt David Rudd from the Casualty Reduction Unit said: "Our Summer Anti-Drink and Drug Driving Campaign may have come to an end last week but our efforts to take drink and drug drivers off the roads have not.

"The introduction of new roadside drug testing kits mean we are better equipped than ever to detect drug drivers on our roads.

"If you get behind the wheel under the influence of drugs, it is only a matter of time before you’re caught and put before the courts.”