Press release —
Supercars worth millions seized in Met crackdown on antisocial driving
More than £8million worth of vehicles – including a Ferrari Monza worth £3.7million - have been seized in a crackdown on antisocial driving in central London.
Officers from the Met, supported by Motor Insurers’ Bureau, seized a total of 90 vehicles between Friday, 7 August and Sunday, 9 August in an operation targeting uninsured drivers, anti-social and dangerous driving across Hyde Park, Kensington and Chelsea. This is the highest number and value of vehicles seized in the operation’s five-year history.
This included a Ferrari Monza SP2, which had only been in the UK for a day, for driving without insurance and not in accordance with a license. The motorist only had a provisional driving license and had been in the car for less than half an hour when he was stopped by Met officers. The exclusive supercar was one of only 499 made by the Italian brand, with one model selling at auction for $4,995,000 (£3.7million) earlier this year.
This weekend’s police action showcased new policing powers, whereby officers can seize vehicles involved in antisocial behaviour rather than giving motorists a warning. This allows us to quickly tackle drivers who are causing alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public. A total of 15 vehicles were seized under this legislation alone across the weekend.
Special Chief Inspector Geoff Tatman, who led the operation, said: “We regularly hear from local people who are fed up with people driving cars dangerously in the area, or with modifications which make them a nuisance to those who live nearby.
“Through operations like this we’re arresting these drivers and seizing their cars so we can keep our roads safe and send clear message that we won’t put up with their reckless and dangerous behavior.”
Angus Eaton, CEO at Motor Insurers’ Bureau, said: “Operations like these show that the rules apply to all motorists, regardless of the value of the vehicle they chose to drive. We know that while many offenders knowingly violate the law, others that aim to be law-abiding motorists may be caught out by making a genuine insurance mistake.
“We want to help all motorists understand the importance of having the right insurance because the consequences of not having insurance or getting the right cover for their needs are severe and long-lasting.
“We urge all motorists to check they have cover in place and that it’s adequate for them, their vehicle, and their journey types.”
The operation featured 120 officers, including 95 from the Met’s Special Constabulary and Vehicle Enforcement Team, backed by Motor Insurers’ Bureau’s expertise in uninsured driving prevention and advanced roadside support. This decisive action reinforces the force’s commitment to tackling dangerous and disruptive drivers across London.
Every week someone in the UK is killed by an uninsured driver, with daily cases of life-altering injuries. Offences often intersect with wider criminal activity, including drug offences, drink-driving an illegal street-racing.
It also worked to tackle growing public concern over disruptive driving behaviours, including those linked to visiting motorists who have failed to follow UK insurance laws. While many visitors enjoy the capital responsibly, a lack of awareness around licensing and policy requirements has increasingly led to unsafe practices.
Officers used several methods to identify uninsured drivers, all enabled by Motor Insurers’ Bureau’s insurance database Navigate, enabling officers to swiftly identify and confirm uninsured vehicles.
During this operation, alongside the 90 vehicles seized, stops for suspected insurance offences also enabled officers to detect a range of other criminal activity, including:
- A man who was found with 19 bank cards in other people’s names and more than £2,500 in cash, who was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and money laundering
- A man who was stopped for driving without insurance and found to have £5,500 in cash, who was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A, B and C drugs
- A man who was arrested for using words and behaviour that would likely cause harassment, alarm, and distress to a member of public
- A man who was arrested on suspicion of an immigration offence
Cllr Caroline Sargent, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Enforcement at Westminster City Council, said: “People who think it’s acceptable to drive illegally in Westminster are not welcome here. The disruption caused by these reckless drivers and boy racers is often worse during the summer months and, as well as putting people at risk, causes significant nuisance for residents and businesses.
“We welcome the Met Police’s latest round of enforcement and our continued partnership in deterring anti-social driving, as well as the recent High Court injunction, which underlines the council's zero-tolerance approach to this behaviour. Drivers who break the rules risk losing their licence or worse.”
In last year’s operation, officers seized 72 vehicles for offences including driving without insurance, driving without a license and antisocial driving. Two stolen vehicles were recovered and eight people were arrested for offences including actual bodily harm, theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.
The weekend of action also identified a number of uninsured drivers who were caught out by common insurance mistakes. This included drivers whose insurance noted the wrong registration or vehicle and drivers whose insurance did not cover UK driving, highlighting the ongoing need for Motor Insurers’ Bureau’s efforts to educate all UK motorists on their motor insurance responsibilities.
Motorists can easily check their vehicle’s insurance status on Motor Insurers’ Bureau’s insurance database at www.checkyourvehicle.org.uk, with insurance tips and common mistakes available on mib.org.uk.
