North Wales Police seize 40 vehicles in uninsured & illegal driver crackdown

A Police crackdown in North Wales against uninsured and illegal drivers which saw 40 vehicle seizures and over 80 arrests has been hailed a success.

The two-week North Wales Police Illegal Driver Campaign was launched last month at the Broughton Retail Park in conjunction with the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

The crackdown targeted those driving whilst disqualified, driving with no insurance or driving without a valid licence. Throughout the campaign officers utilised ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology and worked closely with colleagues at the Motor Insurance Bureau and DVLA.

86 arrests were made for various offences. This included eight arrests for disqualified driving, 56 arrests for drink driving and four for drug driving.

“This campaign was about denying criminals the use of the roads, saving the ordinary driver from higher insurance premiums and reducing road casualties,” said Chief Inspector Darren Wareing from the Force’s Roads Policing Unit.

“We stop and seize vehicles that are found to be on the road illegally throughout the year however this two-week campaign specifically focused on those individuals in a bid to help make the roads a safer place across the region.

“I also want to make it clear that we do listen to the public – as a direct result of information supplied to us either via the control room or Crimestoppers, six people were stopped during the campaign for driving whilst disqualified and driving without a licence.”

The consequences for the drivers who had their vehicles seized can be anything from a fine, to points on their licence to having their vehicle crushed.

As a result of the campaign officers also issued 81 TORs (Traffic Offence Reports) for offences such as speeding, driving whilst using a mobile phone, careless driving and driving without a seatbelt.

C.I Wareing added: “North Wales Police has a robust strategy around enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences which are drink and drug driving, dangerous driving including unnecessary risk taking, speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt and using a mobile phone whilst driving. Although the campaign has ended, we will continue to target these Fatal 5 offences and we will continue to work closely with other agencies such as the Motor Insurance Bureau and DVLA to target illegal drivers. There has been public support for this approach, and together we can help make our roads safer for all.”

If you know of someone who is driving illegally – either without a licence, insurance or is driving whilst disqualified, please contact North Wales Police on 101. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

North Wales Police are continuing to ask for the public’s assistance in their efforts to make the roads safer for all. If anybody has information about illegal drivers they should contact the police on 101, the Force’s non-emergency line, or Crimestoppers Wales anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Alternatively you can contact officers via the new online web chat on the North Wales Police website