Dozens of motorists have already been identified by Cumbria Police as ‘bad drivers’ and now face being monitored closely, as Operation Dreadnought gets underway.

Police have started a new campaign to tackle antisocial motorists on the roads of Cumbria, after listening to feedback from the public.

The force plans to use new intelligence to identify dangerous drivers, which will include taking advantage of dashcam footage from across the county.

Backing from the county’s crime commissioner, Peter McCall, has been welcomed by Inspector Steve Minnikin, from Cumbria Police’s Mobile Support Group.

He said: “We’re responding to concerns from the community and feedback from the police and crime commissioner.

“It has been highlighted that antisocial driving is a real issue and we’re looking at taking things a step further.

“Particularly with drivers who are consistently putting other peoples lives at risk, by either driving dangerously or under the influence of drink or drugs.

“We’ll engage with people first and advise them accordingly. We will target them, make no bones about it. And, if they don’t moderate their driving, they could end up in court.

“We’re looking at different ways of bringing them to justice and make the roads safer.”

Operation Dreadnought has three levels of warnings and people who fall into these groups will be targeted by the police.

Dangerous drivers will be classified as standard, medium or high risk.

Many of those targeted as low-risk are prime candidates for intervention, such as new drivers starting to show concerning driver behaviour.

Medium-risk and high-risk drivers can include those who drive while under the influence of drink or drugs and those who use their vehicles for criminal behaviour, including attempting to evade police officers.

Insp Minnikin added: “As part of the preparation for Operation Dreadnought, we have been working force-wide, across departments to identify dangerous drivers who are at the most risk of being involved in a serious or fatal collision.”

Mr McCall said: “Bad driving behaviour really worries people, because we all use the roads, and anti-social drivers make us all vulnerable to their irresponsible and selfish behaviour.

“That is why I very strongly support Operation Dreadnought, this is proactive policing to target those who blight our towns and rural areas to make our roads dangerous.”

The operation is already having results and one arrest was made on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drugs.

Police have also already identified 21 motorists with poor driving skills who are now being closely monitored. Almost half were medium-risk and high-risk drivers.

Another seven have been issued warning about their driving standards.