Operation overview
More than £8 million worth of vehicles were seized during a weekend operation carried out by the Metropolitan Police in central London. A total of 90 vehicles were seized between Friday 7 August and Sunday 9 August 2026. The operation targeted uninsured drivers, anti-social and dangerous driving across Hyde Park, Kensington and Chelsea.
The operation was described by the force as the highest number and value of vehicles seized in the operation’s five-year history. Officers took action using powers available to them during the three days of activity.
High-value vehicles seized
The seizures included a Ferrari Monza SP2 described in the operation’s account as worth £3.7 million. The Ferrari had reportedly been in the UK for a day when it was stopped for driving without insurance and not in accordance with a licence. The driver was reported to hold only a provisional driving licence and had been in the car for less than half an hour when stopped by officers.
The Ferrari Monza SP2 was identified in the operation material as one of only 499 made by the Italian brand, and the source noted that one model sold at auction earlier in the year for $4,995,000 (£3.7 million).
Enforcement detail and new legislation
The weekend operation made use of new policing powers that allow officers to seize vehicles involved in antisocial behaviour rather than issuing a warning. Across the weekend, 15 vehicles were seized under that legislation.
The action deployed 120 officers, including 95 from the Metropolitan Police’s Special Constabulary and Vehicle Enforcement Team. The operation was supported by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), which provided expertise in uninsured driving prevention and advanced roadside support.
Officers used the Motor Insurers’ Bureau’s insurance database, Navigate, to identify uninsured vehicles during the operation.
Arrests, detections and other outcomes
Stops during the operation led to arrests and detections for a range of offences. The published account of the operation lists several specific incidents identified during activities over the weekend:
- A man was found with 19 bank cards in other people’s names and more than £2,500 in cash; he was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and money laundering.
- A man stopped for driving without insurance was found to have £5,500 in cash and was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A, B and C drugs.
- A man was arrested for using words and behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm, and distress to a member of the public.
- A man was arrested on suspicion of an immigration offence.
Alongside the 90 vehicles seized in this weekend’s operation, the force noted that the previous year’s operation had resulted in 72 vehicles being seized for offences including driving without insurance, driving without a licence and antisocial driving. In last year’s operation, two stolen vehicles were recovered, and eight people were arrested for offences including actual bodily harm, theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.
Operational partners and methods
The published account states the operation was backed by Motor Insurers Bureau support. Officers used the MIB’s Navigate database to swiftly identify and confirm uninsured vehicles as part of their checks during the weekend.
The material associated with the operation lists the deployment of 120 officers overall, with 95 identified as coming from the Met’s Special Constabulary and Vehicle Enforcement Team. The published account presented these staffing details in the context of the three-day operation targeting uninsured drivers and dangerous or antisocial driving in central London.
Summary of verified facts
- More than £8 million worth of vehicles were seized during the weekend operation.
- A total of 90 vehicles were seized between Friday 7 August and Sunday 9 August 2026.
- The operation targeted uninsured drivers, anti-social and dangerous driving in Hyde Park, Kensington and Chelsea.
- A Ferrari Monza SP2 described as worth £3.7 million was seized; it had been in the UK for a day, the driver held only a provisional licence, and he had been in the car for less than half an hour when stopped.
- Fifteen vehicles were seized under new policing legislation allowing seizure for antisocial behaviour rather than issuing a warning.
- The operation deployed 120 officers, including 95 from the Met’s Special Constabulary and Vehicle Enforcement Team, and was supported by the Motor Insurers Bureau.
- Officers used the Motor Insurers Bureau’s Navigate database to identify uninsured vehicles.
- Stops during the operation led to arrests including suspicions of handling stolen goods and money laundering, possession with intent to supply Class A, B and C drugs, harassment/alarm/distress and an immigration offence.
