London police seized 72 luxury cars worth an estimated $9 million in a weekend crackdown on reckless and uninsured driving across the capital’s wealthiest districts, authorities said on Tuesday.
The operation, involving 75 officers from the Metropolitan Police and the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, targeted “anti-social driving” in Hyde Park, Chelsea, and Kensington. Officers impounded cars, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Bentleys, many uninsured or brought in from overseas without valid cover.
“This is about keeping London’s streets safe,” said Special Chief Officer James Deller. “We will not tolerate uninsured or reckless drivers endangering the public.”
Police said the sweep also uncovered stolen vehicles, fraudulent insurance policies, drug offences, and immigration breaches. Tickets were issued for a range of infractions, including driving without a licence and using mobile phones at the wheel.
One purple Lamborghini was seized from a visitor who had been in Britain for only two hours. Another case involved a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 and a Ferrari 296, both found without valid documents.
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau said uninsured driving remains a serious problem, with one person affected every 20 minutes in Britain. “Too many drivers think foreign insurance applies here. It does not,” an MIB spokesperson said.
For years, residents in central London have complained about roaring engines, street races and air pollution caused by wealthy tourists bringing supercars to the city each summer. The season, often dubbed “Supercar Summer,” has turned some of London’s most exclusive postcodes into racetrack-like spectacles.
Past measures included noise fines and public space protection orders, but police said tougher enforcement was now necessary. “This operation sends a clear message: London’s streets are not playgrounds for dangerous driving,” Deller said.
Read more on US-London Travel: The top airlines in 2024’s first nine months
