Almost half of vehicles stopped during this year’s winter police checks were found to have defects.

Over the 14 days of the operation, officers stopped a total of 434 vehicles, of which 199 (45%) had a defect.

The annual winter roadworthiness operation ran between Monday, November 2 and Sunday, November 15.

It was conducted by the roads policing unit, assisted by colleagues from across the Constabulary, along with customs officers and PSV examiners.

Vehicles stopped included those with obvious issues such as headlights out but also those chosen at random.

This year’s format saw a slight change to previous years with a more intense schedule that included morning check points as a result of public feedback.

In addition, the operation was extended to include checks on HGVs and English-registered vehicles which police say are becoming an increasing problem as a result of the border restrictions.

Included within the total of 434 vehicles stopped were 30 that were UK-registered. The vast majority were booked in for their test at the testing centre.

Fifteen HGVs were stopped and all found to be roadworthy with the correct operator licence.

This year the Constabulary worked with a local garage which offered a free workshop on basic car maintenance.

Police said this was a popular scheme and urged young and experienced motorists who are unfamiliar with car maintenance to attend any future workshops.

Sergeant Michael Taylor, of the roads policing unit, said: ’While this successful operation has come to a conclusion, officers will continue to stop vehicles with defects as well as English-registered vehicles, an issue which is becoming a more prominent with the restricted access to the island.

’We would like to remind owners of UK-registered vehicles that they must be re-registered the vehicle as soon as they bring it over to the island.’