Suffolk Police seize more than 900 uninsured vehicles a year

Suffolk Police seized 918 uninsured vehicles across Suffolk in 2023

Suffolk Police seized more than 900 uninsured vehicles across the county last year.

The force said officers used Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras, built into police cars, to detect vehicles that did not have insurance.

After pulling them over, if the driver was unable to provide any proof of insurance, the vehicle was taken.

Insp Gary Miller said: "Removing these vehicles from our roads helps make the county a safer place."

Insp Miller, who works in the joint Norfolk and Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team, continued: "Anyone who thinks that driving a car without insurance is not that serious, should speak to people who have been involved in a collision where they have not been able to claim for the damage caused to their vehicle, or for any medical care they may have required as a consequence."

Between January and December, Suffolk Police seized 918 uninsured vehicles - an average of 2.5 a day.

All police forces submit monthly vehicle seizure statistics to Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), the UK entity responsible for compensating individuals involved in a collision with an uninsured driver, or a driver who fails to stop.

• Illicit tobacco products worth £67k seized

• Ferrari F40 worth more than £1m seized by police

• Rise in victims of uninsured drivers

Simon French, law enforcement liaison officer at MIB, said: "We work closely with the police throughout the year to get dangerous, uninsured vehicles off the road.

"Tackling uninsured driving isn't about getting people to pay premiums - data shows us that those who deliberately drive uninsured cause more frequent and often more catastrophic collisions too, so it's about making roads safer and fairer for everyone."

Suffolk Police said other consequences for uninsured drivers could include: six penalty points on your licence; a fixed penalty of £300; and paying a fee to have your vehicle released.

Suffolk's police and crime commissioner Tim Passmore said: "I fully support the constabulary's proactive approach to enforcement and with the automatic number plate recognition equipment in police vehicles, the chances of being caught is significant."

He sent a message to those who deliberately drive uninsured: "Be warned, Suffolk's roads policing officers are on the case."