More than 60 sixty ”supercars” worth £6 million have been seized in a clampdown on boy racers using central London’s roads as their “own private racetrack”.
A McLaren, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Lamborghini were removed in an operation against nuisance drivers who ride around Westminster at high speed in summer months.
Fed-up residents have been plagued by motorists who park illegally and behave without consideration for others.
Officers also made five arrests including for insurance fraud, using a mobile phone at the wheel, not using a seatbelt and driving without due care on August 2, the Metropolitan Police said.
Special Inspector Geoff Tatman added: “The Met is working to put communities first - listening to and tackling their concerns.
“This hugely successful operation has proved we are dealing with those crimes, such as anti-social driving, that is causing most distress to residents and tourists.
“This brilliant partnership work between the Met’s Vehicle Enforcement Team, Motor Insurance Bureau and Westminster City Council demonstrates to Londoners we are doubling down on crime on the roads.
“It’s also testament to the hard work and dedication of the Met Special Constables – volunteer police officers - that play a vital role in our mission to make London safer and kindly give up their free time help serve the community.”
Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Westminster City Council’s cabinet member for city management, said: “People who think it is ok to use our roads as their own private racetrack late at night are not welcome in Westminster.
“The noise and dangerous driving from these boy racers is often worse during the summer, so I welcome these results from the enforcement work. This underlines the council’s zero tolerance approach to anti-social driving.
“We will continue to work alongside the police and other local authorities to make sure the racing stays on the racetrack and not on our streets.”
The force’s Vehicle Recovery and Examination Services is a crucial part of the Met’s drive to tackle vehicle crime on the streets of London.
A spokesman said the unit operates around the clock and removes and recovers thousands of vehicles, as well as offering support to everything else on the roads, from bikes to HGVs.
He added: “The unique department works in partnership with a number of external agencies and Met contractors to remove, recover, restore and dispose of vehicles that are involved in collisions; those involved in serious and organised crime that require forensic examinations or those that are seized under police powers for no insurance or being unlicensed.”
