VIDEO: £3.7m Ferrari Monza seized as London police target ‘uninsured luxury cars’

Britain’s Metropolitan Police seized nearly 90 luxury vehicles worth more than £8 million during a weekend operation in central London targeting uninsured, reckless and disruptive driving.

The vehicles were impounded in the Kensington, Chelsea and Hyde Park areas between Friday and Sunday, police said.

The operation involved around 120 officers and was the largest of its kind in terms of both the number and total value of vehicles seized since such operations began five years ago. According to the Daily Mail, the seizures took place between August 7 and 9, with the vehicles believed to have gathered in the capital for a meeting of luxury sports car owners.

The most notable vehicle seized was a Ferrari Monza SP2, one of only 499 produced by the Italian manufacturer, valued at around £3.7 million. Police said the vehicle had entered Britain just one day before it was stopped.

The Ferrari driver reportedly held only a provisional driving licence and had no insurance for the vehicle. Reports differed on how long he had been driving before being stopped. The BBC said he had been behind the wheel for less than half an hour, while the Daily Mail reported that he had been driving for about an hour.

A similar Ferrari was sold at auction this year for £3.7 million, or approximately $4.9 million.

Other luxury vehicles seized during the operation included a Lamborghini Revuelto, a Rolls-Royce Wraith and a Porsche 911 GT3, according to the Daily Mail.

Police said 15 vehicles were seized under powers that allow officers to immediately impound a vehicle if it is being used in a disruptive manner, rather than simply issuing a warning.

Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Tatman, who led the operation, said local residents frequently complain about dangerous driving in the area and vehicle modifications that cause disturbances.

“We regularly hear from local residents who are fed up with dangerous driving in the area or with vehicles modified in ways that make them a nuisance to those living nearby,” he said.

Tatman said the seizures were intended to improve road safety and deter dangerous driving.

“Through operations like this, we stop these drivers and impound their vehicles to keep our roads safe and send a clear message that we will not tolerate their reckless and dangerous behaviour,” he added.

One man was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and money laundering after officers found 19 bank cards in other people’s names and a quantity of cash in his possession. The BBC reported that the cash exceeded £2,500, while the Daily Mail put the amount at £5,500.

Another man was stopped on suspicion of driving without insurance and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply. The Daily Mail reported that he was carrying Class A, B and C drugs.

The BBC reported two further arrests — one on suspicion of harassment or using offensive language and another for an immigration offence. The Daily Mail said four people were arrested in total and that the arrests were unrelated to the vehicle seizures.

Uninsured drivers identified through database

The Metropolitan Police used the Office of Motor Insurers’ Navigate database to identify uninsured drivers.

Angus Eaton, chief executive of the Metropolitan Police, said the operation demonstrated that traffic laws applied to all motorists, regardless of the value of their vehicles.

“Operations like this show that the rules apply to all drivers, regardless of the value of the vehicle they choose to drive,” he said.

Eaton said some offenders knowingly break the law, while others who attempt to comply may inadvertently become uninsured because of errors with their insurance.

According to the Daily Mail, some drivers were believed to have shipped their cars to Britain without valid UK road insurance.

The operation surpassed last year’s figures, when the Metropolitan Police seized 72 vehicles for similar offences, recovered two stolen cars and made eight arrests, according to the Daily Mail.

The rare Ferrari was among several vehicles seized during a sports car owners’ meet at Wellington Arch near Hyde Park on Saturday.

Footage showed a police officer driving the Ferrari through the streets of Mayfair surrounded by a police escort, attracting considerable attention from car enthusiasts.