Drug arrests during uninsured driver operation in the City

Cannabis with a street value of £35,000 was found in a vehicle by officers during Operation Drive insured, a week-long intensification operation against uninsured motorists.

Officers from the Targeted Intercept and Tactical ANPR team (TITAN) stopped the vehicle and discovered 3.5kg of cannabis in the boot. A 29-year-old man was arrested for possession with intent to supply and released on conditional bail, pending further enquiries. He was also disqualified from driving and had no insurance. The car was seized and impounded.

The City of London Police supported the national campaign by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) to get uninsured drivers off the road. Roadside operations utilised data provided by MIB and partners, including navigating motor insurance record databases and ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras to flag uninsured drivers.

In total, eight vehicles were seized for having no insurance. Two of these cases showed the wider criminality associated with those driving without insurance. They were:

• A vehicle was stopped, and the driver found to be uninsured and driving with no licence. He was tested for drug use, was found to test positive for cocaine and was arrested. Inside the vehicle, a set of stolen numberplates and a disabled parking badge were recovered (the disabled parking badge was stolen last month when the victim had her window smashed and the badge taken out of her vehicle). He was further arrested for handling stolen goods and bailed, pending further investigations. Both victims were updated and the property was returned to them.
• A car hit ANPR cameras for having no insurance. Officers had reason to suspect that drugs were in the vehicle and carried out a stop and search. A City of London Police dog indicated that there was something in the centre console unit. A search revealed a hidden compartment where 36 bags of class A drugs were found. He was arrested for possession with intent to supply class A drugs. In the process of the arrest, he violently attacked a police officer and was further arrested for assaulting an emergency worker.

Chief Inspector Jo Cash, City of London Police said:

“Our work during this week of intensification shows that uninsured driving is not an isolated issue. It often uncovers other criminality, and the work of our officers has not only seized vehicles but taken drugs off the streets.

“We’re grateful to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau for their support and assistance. By taking a joined up, multi-agency approach to issues on our roads we can make it safer to travel in the City for everyone.”

MIB is committed to reducing uninsured driving, working closely with all police forces to target these dangerous vehicles before they harm another road user. So far this year, almost 115,000 uninsured drivers have had their vehicle seized through the work of MIB in conjunction with police. However, current estimates from MIB indicate that there are an average of 300,000 uninsured vehicles on UK roads every single day.

Martin Saunders, Head of Enforcement at MIB:

“Whilst we focus on uninsured driving every day of the year, Operation Drive Insured is key in ensuring this societal issue remains on the agenda. We’re working closely with the police the length and breadth of the UK to ensure that these dangerous vehicles are identified and removed from our roads.

“With such a clear link to secondary offences and fatal collisions, we know that the benefits of Operation Drive Insured will be widely felt across the UK, making roads and communities safer. This operation is just one more way, alongside a wider range of initiatives, in which we’re making sure that those flouting the law have nowhere to hide.”

Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver and, tragically, each day at least one person suffers injuries so severe they need life-long care.

Top tips to ensure your insurance remains valid:

• Don’t assume your motor insurance policy is set to auto-renew.  
• Check your payment method is still valid when your renewal is due.
• Don’t assume that fully-comprehensive cover allows you to drive someone else’s vehicle. 
• Remember to SORN a vehicle if it is being taken off the road and not used.  
• Check your insurance allows for the class-of-use required, such as commuting or making food or parcel deliveries.

If you’re not sure about your insurance status, check today for free: mib.org.uk/driveinsured