POLICE are continuing to clamp down on drivers who try do avoid prosecution.

The force has revealed that it has a dedicated team working on the issue of divers attempting to pervert the course of justice and has promised it will look to prosecute anyone found trying to cheat the system.

Police are concerned that it could mean drivers who commit dangerous offences are still on the roads.

Sergeant Callum Young said: “We urge any drivers who are tempted to provide false details or information to think otherwise.

“Many of these offences could have been dealt with by means of speed-awareness course or points and a fine, but their actions have escalated into a much more serious crime.

“Perverting the course of justice is a serious criminal offence which attracts much harsher penalties than the initial road traffic offence.

“We will look to prosecute and bring those who do so to justice."

Some of the recent successes include:

A man from Lincoln was found guilty of perverting the course of justice at Carlisle Crown Court after he tried to convince police that he was merely the passenger of a vehicle travelling at 47mph in a 40mph zone. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

A woman from Newmilns, East Ayrshire, has been found guilty after she provided police with false statements and a doctored photo to try and evade prosecution. She was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment (suspended for 12 months), must undertake rehabilitation activity and must pay £622 in costs and fines.

A man from Newcastle-upon-Tyne falsely claimed his wife was the driver of a car that was photographed travelling at 37mph in a 30mph limit by a static speed camera near Carlisle. He was found guilty. He received 80 hours community service and £485 in fines.

A man from Doncaster activated static speed cameras on two occasions. On both occasions, he named someone else as the driver in an attempt to escape the penalties. Following an investigation, it was proved that he was the driver and was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

A man from Cleveland said his partner’s mother was driving his car to escape a speeding penalty.

He was found guilty of perverting the course of justice, given four months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, 200 hours unpaid work, a curfew and a victim surcharge of £115.

Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall said: “Speeding is a choice and drivers need to understand the devastating effects and risks they take by choosing to ignore national speed limits.”