Officers team up with insurers to catch law-breakers.
Thames Valley Police have launched a new initiative designed to catch uninsured drivers across the region.
Using high-tech ANPR technology, traffic officers will identify markers on vehicles and intercept them. The primary targets of the initiative – called Operation Scalis – are uninsured vehicles, but any additional criminal activity discovered is also addressed.
Local neighbourhood teams and roads officers will be working alongside the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), who funded the operation, and will dedicate time to identifying and seizing uninsured vehicles.
The MIB is an agency which protects people from the devastation of uninsured and hit-and-run drivers and has already enabled several days of dedicated operations over the past six months in a successful pilot scheme with West Midlands Police.
Many people assume there is just a fine for having no insurance, but the breadth and longevity of consequences are much bigger and include:
- £300 fine
- Six points on your licence which, for many young drivers, can mean automatic disqualification
- Vehicle seized and potentially crushed
- Court referral, resulting in an unlimited fine and a driving ban
- Driving convictions can show in background checks, impacting job prospects
Over the last six months, the police have seized 173 vehicles for no insurance, 105 vehicles for no tax and 49 vehicles from people without a driving license. They also arrested 69 people for a number of offences including drug driving, drink driving, outstanding warrants, failure to attend court, shoplifting, possession with intent to supply class A drugs and immigration offences.
A further 96 tickets were issued for seat belt offences and no MOTs, and 254 tickets were handed out for people speeding, using their phone while driving and driving carelessly.
“We know that all priorities are pressing for our police colleagues,” said Simon French, Law Enforcement Liaison Officer at MIB.
“However, by supporting Thames Valley Police in designating time to focus on uninsured driving, we know the benefits will be widely felt across all different areas of the force and the community, making roads safer. Tackling this issue together isn’t just about getting people to pay premiums – it’s about increasing safety for all road users. Our message is simple: There is nowhere to hide. Drive with adequate insurance, or you will be caught.”
“This enforcement enhances road safety and reduces the financial impact on law-abiding motorists in the Thames Valley,” added PC Doug Murphy from Thames Valley Police’s Roads Policing Tasking Team.
“Alongside the vehicles that are seized for no insurance, the additional criminality we identified through this operation shows how important it is for the force to be using this kind of robust action.”
