Police have seized more than 70 high-end vehicles worth nearly £7 million in a major operation across London. The Metropolitan Police, working with the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), targeted anti-social and dangerous driving in areas including Hyde Park, Kensington and Chelsea.
The haul included Ferraris, Porsches, Mercedes-Benzes and two identical purple Lamborghinis. According to the MIB, the uninsured Lamborghinis had been air-freighted into Britain for their owner's summer holiday. One driver had been in the country for only two hours and behind the wheel for just 15 minutes before his car was confiscated.
Many of the seized vehicles had been imported from overseas, with drivers relying on insurance from their home countries without confirming its validity in the UK. The operation uncovered other criminal activities, including individuals wanted for assault and criminal damage, drug offences, stolen vehicles, immigration offences and fraudulent insurance policies known as 'ghost broking'.
Multiple penalties were issued for driving without proper documentation, mobile phone use, lack of MOT, illegally darkened windows, seatbelt violations and operating unsafe vehicles. Some drivers had failed to update their insurance companies after informing the DVLA about personalised registration plates.
Seventy-five constables from the Met's Special Constabulary and Vehicle Enforcement Team took part. Special Chief Officer James Deller said: 'The Met is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour. This operation was set up to respond to concerns about high-value vehicles causing a nuisance in central and west London.'
Martin Saunders, Head of Uninsured Driving Prevention at MIB, urged motorists to check their insurance policies and avoid simple mistakes such as bounced payments or failed renewals. 'These rules apply to all motorists, regardless of the value of vehicle they choose to drive,' he added.
