A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder during an operation to detect drivers committing crimes and motoring offences in Kent and Essex.

It came as officers from both forces joined in an operation involving ANPR (automatic number plate recognition).

Police were trying to stop vehicles linked to suspected criminal activity on October 29 and 30.

As part of the crackdown, a 23-year-old man was pulled over near Leybourne Lakes and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

It's in connection with an incident at the Horseman Side traveller site in Brentwood, Essex on January 19, when a man was seriously injured.

Also in Operation Keats:

• Two men aged 31 and 24, both from Canterbury, were arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs after being stopped in Sturry Road, Canterbury, on Friday 30 October 2015. Both were released on bail pending further enquiries until 6 January 2016.
• Nine vehicles linked to a variety of offences were stopped as a result ofANPRhits. No arrests were made but officers gained valuable information to aid enquiries into each incident.

Inspector Jay Allen of Kent Police said: "Operation Keats was an extremely worthwhile exercise that enabled officers to make important arrests, gain valuable intelligence and provide a visible deterrent to anyone thinking about flouting the rules of the road.

"Through the use of ANPR technology and partnership working with our colleagues in Essex, we continue to demonstrate that we will use every tool at our disposal to ensure suspected criminals driving into or out of the county are stopped and brought to justice.

"Operation Keats will run again in the future, which should act as a warning to anyone who is thinking about committing offences within Kent or elsewhere."