Essex police have seized a Lamborghini Huracan potentially worth more than £200,000 under tightened laws aimed at cracking down on dangerous driving.
The supercar was confiscated on Saturday afternoon in Southend after reports of it being driven dangerously. Police said the vehicle was travelling at speeds suspected to be more than twice the limit.
Police response and community safety
“Antisocial driving can pose a danger to other people using the road and cause misery to residents,” a force spokesperson said. “The safety of our communities will always be our priority and we’ll take action against those who risk the safety of others.”
The online marketplace Autotrader estimates the total retail value of the Lamborghini Huracan at £238,195, depending on the model.
Legal powers under section 59
The vehicle was seized under section 59 of the Police Reform Act, which was strengthened earlier this year to allow police to immediately confiscate a vehicle causing – or likely to cause – alarm, distress or annoyance to the public. Previously, drivers received a warning under which their vehicle could only be seized if they were involved in another antisocial driving incident within 12 months.
Officers can still choose to give a warning at their discretion. The law allows officers to stop and seize vehicles, or enter premises where they believe the vehicle is being held – and “use reasonable force where necessary”.
Wheelspins and burnouts, drifting in public places, racing in residential areas and repeated revving “causing nuisance” were all reasons for which vehicles could be seized, the Essex police spokesperson said.
Broader crackdown on luxury cars
The Metropolitan police last year seized 72 luxury cars worth more than £6m in a crackdown on antisocial driving in London. The vehicles – which included Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Bentleys – were either unroadworthy or being driven illegally, the Met said.
Last month, a police officer drove a Ferrari Monza SP2 worth £3.7m after the open-top limited-edition supercar was seized in a separate, record-breaking crackdown.
