Hundreds of unwitting drivers may have been snapped by a secretive police operation on the UK motorway network, with Sussex and Surrey Police loaning an unmarked HGV to spy on drivers.

Loaned by Highways England, the police lorry allows officers to have a better view inside the car with a higher vantage point and the officers found some shocking scenes when they tested the truck on the A3, M3, A23, M25 and A27.

In just nine days, the policy lorry recorded 300 seperate offences, by a total of 285 drivers, including not being in proper control of a vehicle, whilst applying lipstick, driving without due care and attention by watching videos and even simple stuff like not wearing a seatbelt.

The use of maps on a mobile phone was the most popular offence, with Chief Inspector Michael Hodder, head of the joint Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit suggesting that the Truck Spies could be used more often.

“Using unmarked vehicles including the Highways England HGV cab allows us to catch those putting not only their own lives at risk, but also those around them,” Hodder said.

“Drivers shouldn't become complacent or take risks purely because they can't see a marked police car on our roads or they think we can't see what's happening inside their vehicle.”

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