Five police forces across the M62 have worked in collaboration, alongside MIB, today (11 July) to tackle uninsured driving during a multi-force operation.

The MIB (Motor Insurers' Bureau) initiative, working alongside officers from Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Cheshire, and Humberside Police, has seen uninsured vehicles seized along the 107 mile stretch of M62 carriageways.

This was the second multi-force operation across UK motorways, following the success of Operation M4 in April. The series is led by MIB, the UK entity that exists to protect people from the devastation of uninsured and hit-and-run drivers. MIB supports forces along the major road networks to enable the dedicated resourcing of officers, marked vehicles, ANPR cameras, control room operatives and intel staff.

Across the day, over 90 additional road policing officers along the M62 utilised several methods to identify uninsured drivers. This included:

• Operation Tutelage markers, where cars passing ANPR cameras on previous occasions have been compared to data held on Navigate, the record of all active motor insurance policies which is managed by MIB. Uninsured vehicles with an Operation Tutelage marker are then flagged to police and dealt with roadside.
• Using police intelligence and analysis to establish the whereabouts of uninsured vehicles.

To support each of the forces, MIB law enforcement liaison officers joined officers at the roadside. This provided a direct link to Navigate policy data and to the MIB Police Helpline, speeding up the process of confirming a vehicles’ insurance status.

Uninsured driving is, sadly, not a standalone issue, so stopping an uninsured vehicle can help identify individuals of interest, stolen vehicles or property, and wider crime networks. Of the 181 stops made by 4pm, over a third (38%) uncovered secondary offences, including drug offences and the use of mobile phones whilst driving. With the operation continuing until 7pm, further risks are expected to be removed from the M62.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner, Sussex Police, NPCC Lead for Roads Policing, said “I am delighted to see MIB coordinating Operation M62 during July. This is a month we know has higher rates of collisions resulting in death and injury than any other month during the year. Working alongside our key partner MIB, to take risk off our roads, is making our roads safer for all.”

MIB are already in the process of exploring future collaborative operations on other major UK road networks, as part of their £5 million investment to reduce uninsured driving.

Martin Saunders, Head of Enforcement at MIB said “We know that uninsured driving is just one of many pressing priorities for our police colleagues. Following the success of Operation M4, it’s clear that supporting forces in designating time to focus on uninsured driving allows this issue to be tackled head on in a targeted and consistent manner. We know the benefits will be widely felt across all different areas of the community, making the M62 and surrounding areas safer.

“We’re continuing to shape further multi-force operations across different areas of the UK. This is just one more way, in a wider range of initiatives, in which we’re making sure that those flouting the law have nowhere to hide.”

Force Quotes

Inspector Gavin Dixon, from the Merseyside Police Roads Policing Unit said, “Collaborating with Motor Insurers’ Bureau and other forces along the M62 allows us to better tackle the issue of uninsured vehicles. Usually, no insurance is just the tip of the iceberg and will quickly develop into the removal of unroadworthy vehicles, arrests of disqualified drivers and many other offences - making our roads safer for everyone.

“Offenders don’t stop at our borders, so neither do we. We’re working cohesively with colleagues along the length of the M62, meaning there is no place to hide if you choose to drive without insurance along our network. This operation supports our NPCC Op Spotlight operation for July and continues to highlight just how serious we are about reducing road deaths and serious injuries.”

T/Inspector Matthew Jerram, from West Yorkshire Police Roads Policing Unit, said, “While most motorists act responsibly to ensure their vehicles are appropriately insured for their use, some choose to keep driving without adequate cover. It’s these individuals who pose the most risk as they more often choose to also drive without an MOT, with unroadworthy tyres, under the influence of drink and drugs, or while speeding.

“Today's multi-force partnership operation is working closely with Motor Insurers’ Bureau to allow us to focus efforts to tackle this issue. Using data and insights from MIB, we are coordinating with other forces along the M62 corridor to target and remove dangerous, uninsured vehicles from our roads and to deal positively with those responsible.”

Sgt Matt Picton, from Cheshire Police, said, “Todays operation allows us to target those who chose to drive without insurance. By working together with our neighbouring forces we can ensure comprehensive coverage on the Motorway to prevent and detect these offences.

“We expect to see vehicles stopped today for having no insurance which as we know will lead to a wider range of offences, including stolen vehicles, cloned plates, traffic offence, Drink or Drug Driving and even potentially links to drug networks & Organised Crime. It’s clear that focusing on uninsured driving allows us to remove a broader range of risk for the local community & to deny criminal use of Cheshires Roads.” 

Superintendent Saf Ali, Head of Cheshire Police Roads and Crime Unit, said, “Following the success of recent operations during the national campaigns and the continued success of Op Tutelage, we are pleased to continue our positive working relationship with the MIB to identify and target those who use the strategic road network without the right insurance cover in place.

“Uninsured vehicles not only pose a financial risk to other road users if they are involved in a collision, they are often also an indicator of other linked offences, such as unlicenced drivers, vehicles in poor condition as well as other offences linked to criminality. Cheshire Police will be working with the neighbouring forces and MIB to support Operation M62 to proactively target those posing a risk to other road users."