Met Police seize 90 vehicles worth £8m in three-day London crackdown
Operation targeted uninsured, antisocial and dangerous driving in Kensington, Chelsea and Hyde Park
Trust 74Craft 72Hype 35How this was reported ▾
Trust 74: includes named police chief, official Met statements, specific figures and operation dates.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
Critic 72: provides context and quotes, but reads largely like a police press release without follow‑up details.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
Hype 35: uses moderate sensational language but headline matches article content.
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The Metropolitan Police removed 90 vehicles from the streets of Kensington, Chelsea and Hyde Park over a three-day period, with a combined value exceeding £8 million. The operation, which concluded on 18 August 2024, targeted uninsured, antisocial and dangerous driving in response to local complaints.
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Among the seized vehicles was a limited-edition Ferrari Monza SP2, one of only 499 produced. The car, valued at £3.7 million, had arrived in the UK just one day before it was stopped. The driver, who had been behind the wheel for less than 30 minutes, held only a provisional licence and no insurance, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The Ferrari had sold at auction earlier in 2024 for nearly $5 million. Police said the number and value of vehicles seized during this operation were the highest recorded in its five-year history.
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Fifteen of the vehicles were taken under new powers that permit police to seize them without issuing a warning if they are involved in antisocial behaviour. Special Chief Inspector Geoff Tatman, who led the operation, said the police regularly receive complaints from residents about dangerous driving and vehicles with modifications that cause a nuisance.
“We regularly hear from local people who are fed up with people driving cars dangerously in the area, or with modifications which make them a nuisance to those who live nearby.”
Special Chief Inspector Geoff Tatman, Metropolitan Police
Tatman added that the operation aimed to arrest drivers and remove their vehicles to improve road safety and send a clear message against reckless behaviour. The crackdown also resulted in additional arrests unrelated to vehicle offences.
Additional arrests during vehicle stops
During the operation, a man was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and money laundering after police found 19 bank cards in other people’s names and more than £2,500 in cash. Another man, stopped for driving without insurance, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs.
A further arrest was made for using words and behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, and another on suspicion of an immigration offence. The Metropolitan Police did not release the names of those arrested.
What happens next
Seized vehicles will be held by the Metropolitan Police pending further investigation or disposal. Drivers found without insurance or valid licences may face prosecution. It is unclear whether the Ferrari Monza SP2 will be returned to its owner or forfeited.
Questions this report answers
+How many vehicles did the police seize during the operation?
The Metropolitan Police seized 90 vehicles during the three-day operation in Kensington, Chelsea and Hyde Park. The vehicles were targeted for uninsured, antisocial or dangerous driving, with a total value exceeding £8 million.
+Why was the £3.7m Ferrari seized?
The Ferrari Monza SP2 was seized because the driver held only a provisional licence and no insurance. The car had been in the UK for just one day when it was stopped by police during the operation.
+What new powers did police use to seize vehicles?
Police used new powers allowing them to seize vehicles immediately without issuing a warning if they are involved in antisocial behaviour. Fifteen of the 90 vehicles were taken under these powers during the operation.
+What will happen to the seized vehicles?
The seized vehicles will be held by the Metropolitan Police pending further investigation or disposal. Drivers without valid licences or insurance may face prosecution, but it is unclear if vehicles like the Ferrari will be returned.
Barnet Press News Desk
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