UNDERCOVER police officers posed as commuters in bus stops yesterday morning as part of a campaign to tackle drivers who use their phones behind the wheel.

AFC Bournemouth assistant manager Jason Tindall was one of those stopped during the initiative, which took place in Wallisdown Road.

Tindall, 40, was driving his black Range Rover when he was told to pull over because he was suspected of using his phone. He was issued with six points and told he can appeal before magistrates if he chooses to.

A UPS driver stopped and spoken to by officers pulled his hood up and refused to leave the cab of the brown truck to speak to members of the press.

A van driver was initially stopped after being suspected of using his phone, but was then arrested on suspicion of drug driving after a roadside test appeared to indicate he had taken cocaine.

All drivers stopped were directed into a nearby service road to be issued with a fixed penalty notice, which now means an automatic six points and a £200 fine.

As part of legislation introduced in March 2017, motorists caught on their phones are no longer given the opportunity to attend an awareness course instead of receiving points.

PC James Leonard said teams of "spotters" had been out in Wallisdown Road during the busy morning rush hour.

"The spotters are in plain clothes. They're on pavements and at bus stops," he said.

"The message for drivers is that it's clearly dangerous to use a phone while driving.

"Concentrating on a phone will make reaction times longer. It's a massive distraction.

"No one should be looking at a phone when they're in charge of a vehicle."

One man stopped appeared to be browsing the internet. Others had been texting.

"There are plenty of hazards in Wallisdown Road," PC Leonard said.

"People often have to drive slowly in this stretch because of the traffic. But that doesn't mean there aren't lots of hazards for drivers to be aware of.

"There are children going to school, people taking their dogs for a walk, cyclists on their way to work - and it's been raining hard this morning, which means road surfaces are slippery.

"There's a lot to be aware of and a driver can't do that if they're looking at a phone."

The initiative in Dorset yesterday is part of an enforcement campaign spearheaded by the National Police Chiefs' Council.