Ferrari worth £3.7m among cars seized in London police crackdown

Owners of supercars have been targeted in a police crackdown on anti-social and dangerous driving in London over the weekend, as ITV News’ Sabah Choudhry reports

A rare 186mph Ferrari worth £3.7 million has been seized during a police crackdown on anti-social and dangerous driving.

Owners of supercars including Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, McLarens, top-end BMWs, Mercedes and Range Rovers were targeted in the crackdown in Kensington, Chelsea and Hyde Park over the weekend.

The Metropolitan Police said 90 vehicles worth more than £8 million were impounded during the operation, which also focused on uninsured driving by “reckless boy racers”.

The convertible Ferrari Monza SP2 – one of only 499 made by the Italian company – had only been in the UK for a day, having been imported from Saudi Arabia.

Police said the driver, who was stopped at a supercar gathering in Mayfair, only had a provisional driving licence and no insurance.

One Met officer became an internet sensation after donning sunglasses to steer the open-top through the streets of central London back to the force’s pound, as stunned onlookers took his picture.

Watch as Met Police officer in sunglasses drives seized Ferrari Monza SP2 through streets of London to pound:

Credit: @tomspotz

Video footage showed a police escort with flashing blue lights accompanying the officer, with one viewer suggesting on social media that he’d won the drive by beating colleagues in a game, adding: “Rock paper scissors who gets to drive it.”

One of the limited edition 6.5-litre, 810bhp Ferraris sold at auction for almost five million dollars (£3.7million) earlier this year.

Fifteen vehicles were seized under new powers allowing police to seize them rather than give a warning if they are involved in anti-social behaviour.

Special Chief Inspector Geoff Tatman, who led the operation, said: “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.

A Land Rover was impounded at Wellington Arch in central London. / Credit: PA

Police inspect seized BMW X3M near Hyde Park. / Credit: PA

“Through operations like this we’re arresting these drivers and seizing their cars so we can keep our roads safe and send clear message that we won’t put up with their reckless and dangerous behaviour.”

Vehicle stops also saw a man arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and money laundering, after he was found with 19 bank cards in other people’s names and more than £2,500 in cash.

Another male stopped for driving without insurance was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs with one further arrest for using words and behaviour that would likely cause harassment, alarm and distress, as well as another on suspicion of an immigration offence.

Police said the number and value of the vehicles seized was the highest in the five years of the operation.

Angus Eaton, CEO of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, said: “Operations like these show that the rules apply to all motorists, regardless of the value of the vehicle they chose to drive.

“We know that while many offenders knowingly violate the law, others that aim to be law-abiding motorists may be caught out by making a genuine insurance mistake.

“We want to help all motorists understand the importance of having the right insurance because the consequences of not having insurance or getting the right cover for their needs are severe and long-lasting.

“We urge all motorists to check they have cover in place and that it’s adequate for them, their vehicle, and their journey types.”

The Met’s operation featured 120 officers, including 95 from the Met’s Special Constabulary and Vehicle Enforcement Team, backed by Motor Insurers’ Bureau’s expertise in uninsured driving prevention and advanced roadside support.

Every week someone in the UK is killed by an uninsured driver, with daily cases of life-altering injuries.

Offences often involve wider criminal activity, including drug offences, drink-driving and illegal street-racing, a spokesman said.

Councillor Caroline Sargent, Westminster City Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for enforcement, said: “People who think it’s acceptable to drive illegally in Westminster are not welcome here.

“The disruption caused by these reckless drivers and boy racers is often worse during the summer months and, as well as putting people at risk, causes significant nuisance for residents and businesses.”