THERE is no doubt that police swoops on our roads using smart camera-and-computer Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology have reaped impressive results. More than 100 motorists were stopped in East Lancashire alone as officers set up seven checkpoints across the county.

And at one in Blackburn, they made 13 arrests for offences including driving while disqualified and theft, and issued fixed-penalty notices to motorists without MoT certificates and others driving unroadworthy vehicles.

The scope of the ANPR equipment was also shown by it being used to detain people with outstanding fines, others wanted on warrants and ones illicitly using tax-exempt 'red' diesel fuel.

Yet, while it is clearly a proven weapon for catching criminals on the roads - and, yes, let's drive the tax dodgers, banned drivers and other offenders off them - does not its use and the declaration today that it will be employed daily in East Lancashire demonstrate yet again how much the police have motorists in their sights these days?

Coupled with the continuing speed camera blitz in Lancashire, these ANPR swoops may well be making the roads safer. But do not people want the police to make their neighbourhoods and homes safer, too?

And is it not fair of them to expect police efforts to be concentrated just as much on protecting the community -above all, in the form of more officers on the beat - as they seem to be on the roads?