Lamborghini, Porsche and Mercedes CLK amongst Police seizures

During the first three months of the Operation Reclaim Ealing Borough Police have seized 677 vehicles, a figure which includes number of high value vehicles such as a Lamborghini, a Porsche, a Mercedes CLK, and a jeep Cherokee.

From the 677 vehicles seized during the first three months of the operation, 151 vehicles have been disposed of, 499 restored and a further 27 remain impounded.

Some of the vehicles disposed of by Ealing Borough Police recently include an Audi A6, a BMW 520I, a Lexus LS400, a Mazda MX-5, a Mitsubishi Shogun, a SAAB 900S and a Volvo S40.

Operation Reclaim is the Met’s response to the amended Road Traffic Act, which gives police officers the power to seize uninsured vehicles, and those being driven other than in accordance with a licence.

Once seized the vehicle is taken to an MPS secure vehicle compound where it costs the owner a £105 release fee and a £12 per day storage.

If the vehicle is not collected within 14 days of seizure, it is disposed of by the police.

The scheme was launched in Ealing Borough in October 2007 and will be rolled out across the MPS in due course. Ealing Borough Police have not given Operation Reclaim an end date and we will continue to carry out operations across the borough over the coming weeks and months.

Community and Partnership Superintendent Ian Jenkins, Ealing borough Police, said, “We are delighted with the results achieved during the first 3 months of Operation Reclaim. Legislation gives us the power to remove vehicles from the road in order to improve road safety and stop those individuals who are breaking the law. We are confident that Operation Reclaim will help to make London and Ealing borough safer and will continue targeting those drivers who choose to drive their vehicles without insurance."

January 11, 2008