DEVON and Cornwall Police’s commitment to road safety has been recognised by a national charity.

Officers from the Road Casualty Reduction team have been presented with the ‘Compliance and Engagement’ award, following a roadside operation that took place earlier this year.

In February 2024, Devon & Cornwall Police worked with TyreSafe Manager, Jason Simms, and the DVSA to carry out spot checks on vehicles in Cowley, Exeter, after research revealed that the South West was a high risk area for non-compliant tyres.

As part of the operation, officers stopped more than 50 cars, providing valuable words of advice to motorists, and facilitating free tyre safety checks courtesy of TyreSafe.

The force has now been recognised by the TyreSafe Charity for its commitment to raising awareness about the importance of checking and maintaining vehicle tyres.

At the annual TyreSafe awards – which took place on June 13 at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham – judges praised Devon & Cornwall Police for their dedication.

They said: ‘The participation and support of Devon and Cornwall Police proved instrumental in elevating the profile of tyre safety in the public eye.’

Sgt. Owen Messenger of the Road Casualty Reduction team said: ‘We’re really honoured to have been presented with the TyreSafe ‘Compliance and Engagement’ award.

‘The team work tirelessly every day, and it’s encouraging to see their valuable efforts recognised by national organisations.

‘We’re committed to keeping people safe on our roads and will continue to work with our partners both locally and nationally to reduce the number of serious and fatal collisions in Devon and Cornwall.’