More than 70 cars worth nearly £7million were seized in a police crackdown last weekend, including a pair of identical purple Lamborghinis.
The Metropolitan Police collaborated with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) to impound vehicles in London as a response to anti-social and dangerous driving. Pictures reveal the variety of cars seized across Hyde Park, Kensington and Chelsea, which included Ferraris, Porsches and Mercedes-Benzes.
According to the MIB, the uninsured Lamborghinis had been flown into Britain for their owner’s summer trip. One of the drivers had only been in the country for two hours and had been driving for just 15 minutes before his car was seized.
The MIB stated that several of the impounded vehicles had been brought into Britain from abroad, with drivers relying on motor insurance from their home countries without verifying whether those policies provided valid coverage. During this operation, besides the 72 vehicles seized, many of which were uninsured or inadequately covered, officers also detected a range of other criminal activity.
This included individuals wanted for ABH and criminal damage, drug offences, stolen vehicles, immigration offences and fraudulent insurance policies, known as ‘ghost broking’. Multiple tickets were also handed out for a variety of offences, including driving without a valid licence, using a mobile phone while driving, lack of a valid MOT, illegally tinted windows, not wearing a seatbelt, and operating vehicles in a dangerous condition.
Officers also spotted individuals who had made often-innocent mistakes, such as updating DVLA about the use of a personalised number plate but failing to notify their insurance provider. The operation provided an opportunity for the motorists to correct their errors whilst showing just how alert the police are to these issues.
Seventy-five officers from the Met’s Special Constabulary and Vehicle Enforcement Team took part, using a range of methods to identify uninsured drivers.
Special Chief Officer James Deller from the Metropolitan Police, who attended the operation, said: “The Met is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour. This operation was set up to respond to resident, business and visitors’ concerns about high-value vehicles causing a nuisance in known hotspot areas in central and west London.”
He continued: “Already the Met has reduced neighbourhood crime by 19 per cent compared to the same time last year and we’re addressing anti-social behaviour caused by uninsured drivers. This has been a great opportunity to work with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and for officers to speak with members of the public about the work we do, educate drivers and enforce the law. We’ve had some real success – thank you to Special Constable colleagues who volunteer their time to help drive down crime across London.”
Martin Saunders, Head of Uninsured Driving Prevention at MIB, said: “We urge all motorists to check their insurance policy is in place, is appropriate for their needs and to reach out to their insurer if they are unsure on any part of their policy. While many offenders knowingly violated the law, others fell victim to simple mistakes such as bounced payments, failed renewals or incorrect details.”
He added: “With growing concern over seasonal hotspots and tourist-linked offences, the Met and MIB plan to continue enforcement and education efforts throughout the year. We don’t want any driver to become uninsured in the first place. These rules apply to all motorists, regardless of the value of vehicle they choose to drive.”
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