A weekend-long operation, led by the Metropolitan Police and supported by the MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau), saw 72 vehicles, collectively valued at almost £7 million, seized in a targeted response to anti-social and dangerous driving across Hyde Park, Kensington and Chelsea.

High-end supercars made up a large number of the impounded vehicles, including a pair of identical uninsured purple Lamborghinis which had been flown into the UK for their owner’s summer trip. One of the two drivers had been in the country for just two hours and had only been driving for 15 minutes before the car was seized.

The initiative tackled growing public concern over disruptive driving behaviours, including those linked to visiting motorists unfamiliar with 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.

Several of the seized vehicles had been brought to the UK from abroad, with drivers relying on motor insurance from their home countries without verifying whether those policies provided valid coverage in the UK. It's essential that anyone using a vehicle in the UK ensures that it is properly insured under a policy that is recognised by UK law before driving on public roads.

75 officers from the Met’s Special Constabulary and Vehicle Enforcement Team took decisive action, backed by MIB’s expertise in uninsured driving prevention and advanced roadside support. Several methods were used to identify uninsured drivers, all enabled by MIB’s insurance database Navigate, enabling officers to swiftly identify and confirm uninsured vehicles. These included ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), predictive movement tracking and vehicle markers.

Uninsured driving remains a huge problem in the UK. Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is impacted by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, with one person each day suffering life-altering injuries. Moreover, such offences often intersect with wider criminal activity including drug running, drink-driving, speeding and money laundering.

During this operation, in addition to the 72 vehicles seized, many of which were uninsured or inadequately covered, officers detected a range of other criminal activity, including:

• Individuals wanted for ABH and criminal damage
• Drug offences
• Stolen vehicles
• Immigration offences
• Fraudulent insurance policies, known as Ghost Broking

Several tickets were also issued for a range 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 identified 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 rectify their errors whilst demonstrating just how vigilant the police are to these issues.

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.

“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, reinforced the dual goals of enforcement and awareness: “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. 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.”