Police seize supercars worth £6m in anti-social driving crackdown
The Metropolitan Police said the cars were either unroadworthy or being driven illegally.
The operation was launched following complaints from residents, businesses and visitors about high-value cars causing disruption in and around Hyde Park, Kensington and Chelsea.
Officers worked with the Motor Insurers' Bureau to issue tickets for a range of offences including driving with no insurance, no licence, disqualification, false documentation and fraudulent number plates.
Several stolen vehicles were recovered, with 10 others found to have no valid MoT and 11 without road tax.
Eight people were arrested for offences including actual bodily harm (ABH), criminal damage, drug offences, theft and immigration breaches.
Those arrested include a 22-year-old man from Hammersmith, held for ABH and criminal damage, who was remanded in custody.
Another man, aged 25 and from London, was charged with possession of a class B drug.
A 27-year-old man from Watford was arrested for theft of a motor vehicle and released under investigation.
A 23-year-old man from Twickenham was remanded after being arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving without insurance or a licence, and drug-driving.
Three men, aged 26, 35 and 39, and a 23-year-old woman, all from London, were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.
Special Chief Officer James Deller said the operation responded to concerns over 'high-value vehicles causing a nuisance in known hotspot areas in central and west London'.
He added: 'The Met has already reduced neighbourhood crime by 19% over recent months and we're addressing anti-social behaviour caused by uninsured drivers.
'This has been a great opportunity to work with the Motor Insurers' Bureau and for officers to speak with members of the public about the work we do, educate drivers and enforce the law.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Drink driver crashed van into girl, 14, before urinating in front of her
Drunk driver John Thompson, 45, collided with a girl in Westbury in March this year before proceding to urinate just metres away from her as she lay injured in the road A drunk driver who collided with a 14-year-old girl before urinating in front of her has been sentenced. John Thompson, 45, collided with a girl in Meadow Lane, Westbury on March 13 this year, according to Wiltshire Police. The girl suffered injuries, but officers said they were not life-threatening. When officers attended the scene following the collision, another man claimed to be the driver. Thompson, of Norden in Bradford on Avon, then told police he desperately needed to go to the toilet. He began to urinate "against the passenger side of his van", despite the teen being just yards away from him and still lying in the road from the injuries she suffered. Police said the ordeal was 'incredibly traumatic for the victim' as well as her mother who was present at the scene. Thompson was found to be over the legal drink drive limit and was arrested along with the other man. During an interview, Thompson insisted to police that he was not the driver, but police presented him with footage that was gathered from the scene of the collision. It showed clearly Thompson getting out of the driver's seat. After he was shown the footage, Thompson admitted being the driver. Police said he failed to provide an evidential sample for analysis in custody. He was later charged with failing to provide, careless driving and driving without an MOT. The other man was released without charge. Thompson pleaded guilty to the charges against him. Yesterday, he was ordered to pay £114 to fund victim services at court, along with court costs of £85. 'He must also complete a 60-day alcohol abstinence requirement, with arrangements in place for monitoring, and up to eight days of rehabilitation activity,' said Wiltshire Police. In addition, Thompson was disqualified from driving for 17 months. This is to be reduced by 17 weeks if he completes a driving course that has been approved by the secretary of state. Roads Policing Sergeant Neil Bott said: 'This incident was incredibly traumatic for the victim and her mother who was also at the scene. Any collision with a vehicle can be traumatic, but to then have the driver be so incredibly callous and disrespectful by urinating in front of the victim while she was lying injured is hard to believe. 'Thompson then tried to protest his innocence in custody before being shown clear footage that he had been driving the van. I am pleased he has now been sentenced and I hope he takes the time to reflect on his actions.'
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
Mohamed al-Fayed: Almost 150 people report crimes to investigation, Met Police say
The Metropolitan Police have almost 150 people have come forward to report a crime as part of their investigation into former Harrods boss Mohamed al-Fayed. The total of 146 reports were revealed as part of a video update sent to alleged victims earlier this week. It comes a month after Scotland Yard apologised to alleged victims for the distress they have suffered. In a letter leaked to the BBC, the officer leading the investigation said she was "acutely aware the case is especially distressing to all those who have suffered". "Not least due to the fact that the main suspect will now never directly face justice for his crimes and, for this, I am truly sorry," Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Craggs wrote. Al-Fayed died in 2023 aged 94. The Met is currently conducting an investigation into how it handled historical allegations of offending by the tycoon. It will also look into any potential facilitators and enablers, and whether any misconduct or corruption occurred. A spokesperson for the force said: "The live investigation into those who could have facilitated or enabled Mohamed al-Fayed's offending continues. "The way the Met works has moved on immeasurably, and our teams have transformed the way we investigate rape and sexual offences. "We're working with partners across the criminal justice system to ensure that victim-survivors are at the heart of our response, with a greater focus on suspects and their offending. "We continue to support all victims and we urge anyone with information, whether they were directly affected by Mohamed al-Fayed's actions, or aware of others who may have been involved or committed offences, to come forward. "We cannot comment further at this time, but will provide an update as soon as we are able to and where this won't jeopardise criminal or other proceedings." The force is expected to provide more written or video updates to victims over the coming months. In November, it said detectives were investigating more than five people who may have facilitated the former Harrods boss in his alleged sexual abuse of dozens of women and girls. They are looking at individuals surrounding the businessman who could have enabled him to commit crimes which are claimed to have spanned decades between 1977 and 2014. The force is also facing allegations of police corruption, with The Guardian newspaper reporting that officers were accused of taking bribes to help him persecute staff and avoid accusations of abuse. The Met said it has transformed the way it investigates rape and serious sexual offences and is doing more to put victim-survivors at the heart of its response to these crimes. More than 100 survivors of alleged sexual abuse by Al-Fayed have entered Harrods' redress scheme, the department store said last month.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
High-speed driver busted by police after dangerous chase through London
A high-speed police pursuit through London has been captured on camera after a car was spotted travelling at double the speed limit and the wrong side of a carriageway. The Metropolitan Police has released footage of the police chase which shows officers following the vehicle through the streets of London as the car travels at dangerous speeds on the wrong side of various roads. The police manage to bring the car to a stop by driving up against the vehicle in a tactical move. The force confirmed a driver had been arrested and drugs, cash and phones were also seized. A force spokesman said: "Decisive police action is helping to remove drugs and dangerous drivers from London's streets."
