This week, North Wales Police have become the first police force in Wales to join Operation Scalis, a UK-wide initiative led by MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau) to tackle uninsured driving.

Operation Scalis aims to reduce the number of uninsured vehicles on the roads through targeted enforcement and driver education. North Wales Police already seize an average of 82 vehicles per month across the region. By joining Operation Scalis, they aim to surpass these figures to further reduce the risk posed by uninsured vehicles.

MIB, the not-for-profit that exists to protect people from the devastation of uninsured and hit-and-run drivers, has already launched Operation Scalis across eight UK police forces, including Essex, West Midlands, and Thames Valley.

The initiative brings together roads policing teams who will use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to identify vehicles being driven without insurance and take appropriate enforcement action. The initiative will allow North Wales Police to dedicate officer resource to focus on postal areas with high levels of uninsured driving, identified through uninsured collision claims data. Officers will take part in dedicated enforcement days, supported by funding from MIB.

Whilst the primary target is uninsured vehicles, any additional criminal activity discovered will also be addressed. During the first day of action, seizures included:

• A newly licensed driver who passed in April had his insurance cancelled due to non-compliance with telematics.
• A disqualified driver was found to be driving with invalid insurance.
• A recovery truck was seized after its driver used a personal motor trade policy outside its permitted conditions.

North Wales Police use a range of tools to identify uninsured drivers, including Navigate - the central record of all active motor insurance policies managed by MIB - Operation Tutelage markers that flag uninsured vehicles through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), and police intelligence combined with predictive analytics to track known offenders.

In conjunction with enforcement, Operation Scalis also seeks to educate drivers about the serious consequences of driving without insurance. These include:

• A £300 fixed penalty fine
• Six penalty points, which can lead to automatic disqualification for new drivers
• Vehicle seizure and potential destruction
• Unlimited fines and driving bans via court referral
• £1,000 average increase in future insurance premiums

Sergeant Alun Jones of the Roads Crime Unit at North Wales Police said: "Reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads remains our priority and removing uninsured drivers from our roads helps to do just that. We're pleased to be part of the MIB's Operation Scalis - a proactive ANPR initiative that enhances road safety and reduces the financial impact on law abiding motorists across North Wales.

"Many people will see uninsured driving as a victimless crime at best, or as only impacting on the profits of large insurance companies at worst, but this is not the case. Uninsured drivers are significantly more likely to cause a death or injury on the road and are also often involved in wider road crime. We witness far too often the devastation a road collision has on those involved, their families and the wider community. When this also involves an uninsured driver, there is also the financial cost associated with it.

"We are urging all drivers to respect other road users and drive insured. Protecting the public and keeping our roads safe for everyone is our priority and removing uninsured drivers from our roads helps to do that.”

Hayley Sutcliffe, Law Enforcement Liaison Officer at MIB, said: “We’re pleased to welcome North Wales Police as the first Welsh force to join this national initiative. Their involvement strengthens the collaborative effort to tackle uninsured driving.

“Uninsured driving is not just a legal issue; it has real consequences for road safety and for victims who are left vulnerable when collisions occur. By working together, we can better identify uninsured vehicles and act more efficiently.

“This partnership also gives us an opportunity to raise awareness among the public about the consequences of driving without insurance and some simple checks to avoid common insurance mistakes. Education is key to prevention, and we’re committed to supporting police forces in both enforcement and awareness.”

To check if your vehicle is insured, visit Navigate, the central record of all live insurance policies run by MIB - www.checkyourvehicle.org.uk