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.

Former Weymouth Football Club manager, Jason Tindall, who is now assistant manger at Premier League AFC Bournemouth, was one of those stopped during the initiative.

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.

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

It will carry on throughout the week and traffic officers as well as regular response crews in Weymouth and west Dorset will also be looking for mobile phone offences on local roads.

Legislation introduced in March 2017 means those caught can receive six points on their licence and a £200 fine. Motorists caught on their phones are no longer given the opportunity to attend an awareness course instead of receiving points.

Early indications nationally show that the new legislation is having an impact with around 11 per cent fewer drivers stopped in the three months post-legislation than in the preceding three months.

In 2016, 32 people were killed in road traffic collisions where the driver of the vehicle was using their mobile phone, according to reports from the Department for Transport.

PC James Leonard said teams of "spotters" had been out in Wallisdown Road, Bournemouth, 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."

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said: "Nearly a year on from legislation to toughen the sanctions for using a phone at the wheel, we are seeing some change in driver behaviour but there are still too many people underestimating the risk they take.

"If you glance at a phone for even 2.3 seconds while driving at 30mph you miss 100ft of road. That is the equivalent to the length of Boeing 737.

"Drivers, put safety first and keep your eyes on the road. If you do use your phone at the wheel, don't be surprised to be stopped by police and to receive a fine and points on your licence."