A new police vehicle is being supplied to Staffordshire Police this month by MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau), the organisation responsible for tackling uninsured driving across the UK. The dual‑branded car will support the force’s ongoing work to remove uninsured and inadequately insured drivers from roads across Staffordshire.

Special Constables within Staffordshire Police are trained and authorised to stop and seize vehicles that appear to have no valid insurance. However, they can often find it challenging to access appropriate police cars as demand is high.

To support these officers, who generously volunteer their time to keeping roads safe, MIB has funded a dual‑branded Toyota Corolla fitted with in‑built Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). The system identifies suspected uninsured vehicles by comparing ANPR reads with Navigate, MIB’s database of all live motor insurance policies in the UK, enabling officers to stop and investigate further.

This marks the second police force to receive a dual‑branded MIB vehicle, following a successful pilot with Avon and Somerset Police last year. The pilot demonstrated the clear operational benefits of providing Special Constables with dedicated ANPR‑equipped cars, enabling them to carry out more frequent and targeted uninsured‑driving enforcement.

A formal handover ceremony took place at Staffordshire’s Road Crime Team base on 16th March, and the vehicle is now in active use on targeted operations. Uninsured driving remains a persistent issue in Staffordshire.

The force seized 2,564 uninsured vehicles in 2024, rising to 2,875 in 2025, demonstrating the continued importance of dedicated resources to tackle this offence.

On the first day of operation, the vehicle enabled officers to seize six cars for no insurance that were being driven on Staffordshire roads.

Through the running of the new ANPR-equipped police car, Staffordshire Police aim to surpass their previous year’s seizure figures to further reduce the risk posed by uninsured vehicles.

Chief Inspector Scott McGrath, from Staffordshire Police’s road crime team, said: “Reducing harm on our roads remains a top priority and removing uninsured drivers from them helps to do just that. I am delighted to see this partnership with the Motor Insurers' Bureau. The new vehicle will go a long way to helping our dedicated road crime and road harm prevention teams tackle the blight of uninsured driving.

“This initiative is not just about enforcing the law but about protecting our communities. I look forward to seeing the impact this vehicle has on our mission to go after and take action against individuals who use the road network for criminality and to keep people safe.”

Hayley Sutcliffe, Law Enforcement Liaison Officer at MIB, said: “We’re really proud to support Staffordshire’s Special Constables with this dedicated ANPR‑equipped vehicle. These volunteers give up their own time to help make the roads safer for everyone, and having reliable access to the right equipment will make a meaningful difference to their ability to identify and remove uninsured vehicles.

“We hope the visibility of this new car encourages drivers to double‑check that their insurance is valid and suitable for their needs. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this vehicle has and to continuing our strong working relationship with Staffordshire Police.”

Leonie Clues, Head of Customer Delivery Services at MIB, who presented the keys to Staffordshire Police, added: “This initiative focuses on giving Special Constables the resources they need to play an even bigger role in road safety. Providing a dedicated vehicle will open up additional opportunities for them to intervene when uninsured drivers put others at risk, helping to make roads safer for everyone. We’re excited to see the benefits this will deliver for communities across Staffordshire. and the impact it will have on our ambition to end uninsured driving for good.”