The biggest ever crackdown on uninsured drivers has seen vehicles seized and arrests made.

Police in Sutton stopped 284 cars on Thursday February 2, at checkpoints on routes between the town and Croydon as part of the largest operation of its kind in the borough.

More than 60 officers took part from Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, Safer Transport Teams and Safer Parks Teams, supported by specialist traffic officers who were using Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology.

In total 16 vehicles were seized for having no insurance while two drivers were arrested for driving while disqualified and for an immigration offence.

Drivers who have their vehicles seized are fined £200 for having no insurance and receive six points on their driving licence.

Their vehicles are seized from the street, put on a vehicle recovery truck and removed to a Metropolitan Police vehicle pound in either Perivale or Charlton.

It costs drivers £150 fine to get their vehicle back once they have proof they have taken out insurance, plus and extra £20 per day storage.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Chambers at Sutton Police Station said: “Research shows that 80 per cent of uninsured vehicles are driven by people who are involved in criminal activities or have a criminal record and are nine times more likely to be involved in a collision."

The last operation against uninsured drivers in Sutton on January 12 resulted in 137 vehicles being stopped, five vehicles being seized for having no insurance and 37 drivers receiving Fixed Penalty Notices for a variety of offences including have no seat belt on, holding a mobile phone whilst driving and for having vehicle defects.