Met Police seize super cars worth £6million in anti-social driving crackdown in central London

A Met Police operation in London’s West End targeting anti-social driving has resulted in super cars worth more than £6million being removed from the capital’s streets.

Officers seized a total of 72 luxury vehicles, including Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s and Bentley’s that were either unroadworthy or being driven illegally.

The operation was organised in response to concerns raised by residents, businesses and visitors about a rise in super cars causing a nuisance in and around the Hyde Park, Kensington and Chelsea areas.

Working alongside the Motor Insurers’ Bureau between Friday, 8 and Sunday, 10 August, the cars were seized and drivers issued with tickets for a variety of motoring offences, including driving with no insurance, no driving licence, disqualification, false documentation and the use of fraudulent number plates.

Officers also recovered several stolen vehicles, with another ten identified as having no valid MOT documentation and a further eleven without road tax.

Met officers uncovered a range of other criminal activity as part of their investigation, making eight arrests. These included individuals wanted for actual bodily harm and criminal damage, drug offences, theft and immigration offences.

London’s town centres, high streets and communities are seeing an enhanced police and local authority presence this summer as part of partnership work to build on reductions in theft, burglary, robbery, anti-social behaviour and retail crime achieved in the capital so far this year, with this proactive operation another example of how the Met is keeping people and motorists safe.

The operation was supported by volunteer officers from the Met’s Special Constabulary.

Special Chief Officer James Deller, from the Met’s Special Constabulary, said:

“The Met is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and this operation was set-up to respond to concerns from resident, businesses and visitors about high-value vehicles causing a nuisance in known hotspot areas in central and west London.

“The Met has already reduced neighbourhood crime by 19 per cent over recent months and we’re addressing anti-social behaviour caused by uninsured drivers.

“This has been a great opportunity to work with the Motor Insurance Bureau and for officers to speak with members of the public about the work we do, educate drivers and enforce the law.”

Details of those arrested:

• A 22-year-old man from Hammersmith was arrested for ABH and criminal damage and has been remanded.

• A 25-year-old man from London was arrested and later charged for possession of a Class B drug.

• A 27-year-old man from Watford was arrested for theft of a motor vehicle and released under investigation.

• A 23-year-old man from Twickenham was arrested for theft of motor vehicle, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, no insurance, no driving licence and drug driving and remanded.

• Three men, aged 26, 35 and 39, and a 23-year-old woman, all from London, were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

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