Police display uninsured £200,000 Ferrari seized by officers

A £200,000 fluorescent orange FF Ferrari is sitting outside New Scotland Yard - alongside an £18,000 Mercedes. The 28-year-old driver got the shock of his life when officers turned up to check his insurance details at his home in South Kensington, and when he couldn't produce them, he had his car confiscated.

So why is this car sitting outside a police station now?

Operation Cubo

Putting this supercar on display is part of what the police are calling Operation Cubo: a crackdown on uninsured drivers, which has been running since October last year. Yesterday was the 11th 'day of action', where local forces have been swooping in, seizing vehicles and in many cases arresting the drivers. During one day, 300 vehicles were seized and 30 arrests made. In all, the operation so far has seen an astonishing 37,000 vehicles confiscated.

Other crimes

The operation has two aims. The first is based on the fact is that many drivers who are uninsured are also committing a variety of other offences. The police are therefore targeting criminals and confiscating their vehicles.

Yesterday's arrests included ones for driving while disqualified, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of class A drugs. In the previous ten days of action, there have been 750 arrests, for everything from possession of illegal firearms to money laundering.The police say that by denying the criminals their mode of transport, it can keep them from committing crime.

Commander Stephen Watson, who is leading the operation, said: "Operation Cubo has achieved some outstanding results and we expect another large haul of vehicle seizures today, and more importantly a number of arrests - including arrests for some very serious offences."

Uninsured

The second aim is to take uninsured cars off the road - as they are far more likely to be unroadworthy and be involved in accidents - with law-abiding citizens. Watson added: "By displaying seized vehicles across London, we are sending a strong message to people who choose to drive without insurance that we will seize and possibly sell or crush your vehicle."

Police have been seizing cars for this reason since the law first allowed it in 2005, but their task was made far easier in 2011 with the introduction of Continuous Insurance Enforcement. This requires every car to be insured at all times unless it has been officially declared off the road.

It means that nowadays you don't have to be caught on the road, the police can use the database to track you down and write to you, issuing you with a £100 fixed penalty notice. If you don't pay up and insure your car, you can then have your car confiscated, and be prosecuted.

What this means for you

It pays to be aware that the police are taking these powers very seriously. In August they seized their millionth uninsured car.

Your view on all of this depends on your approach to insurance. If you are one of the majority of people who pay through the nose for legal insurance, you will be delighted that the number of uninsured drivers is being tackled - as they add a small fortune to everyone's premiums.

If you are not covered, this could be the wake-up call you need to encourage you to insure if you can afford it, or sell if you can't - before you end up paying at least £100 and losing your car anyway.



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