Public Servant Lifestyle

Award-winning scheme pioneered by Durham Constabulary notches up another notable landmark as 4,000th suspected uninsured or unlicensed vehicle is stopped.

'Operation Takeaway' was launched three years ago to target drivers who get behind the wheel without being licensed or insured. By linking with insurance industry databases police using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras can pinpoint suspect cars, vans and motorcycles.

'Operation Takeaway'

Once the vehicle is seized it is removed to one of ten contracted garages across the force area. The owner then has seven working days to produce an appropriate licence or insurance policy, or face it being sent to the scrapheap.

The scheme claimed its 4,000th 'hit' recently when an automatic 3 series BMW was stopped on Framwellgate Peth near the entrance to the DLI (Durham Light Infantry) museum. Checks revealed the owner, a man from Durham, had no insurance and the car was duly towed away. However, two days later he turned up at the garage with proof of his new policy and after paying the recovery and storage fees to the garage he was able to drive the vehicle away.

"Uninsured drivers are a real menace and are ten times more likely to have an accident than someone who is covered. They also cost each legal driver about £30 per year in increased premiums," said Malcolm Shilton, the force's vehicle recovery scheme manager.

"But we are starting to make progress and the Motor Insurance Bureau recently announced the number of claims for uninsured losses dropped by about 15% in 2007. Looking at the national figures it is clear Durham Constabulary has played a very significant part in this," added Mr Shilton.

Funding

Until recently the initiative received external funding from the private sector. This source of revenue has now ceased, but the force has successfully negotiated an arrangement with the contracted garages to keep the scheme going.

In November 2006 'Takeaway' won first prize in the corporate social responsibility category of the annual awards of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The trophy – a six-pointed silver star – nearly stayed in London as security staff at Stansted Airport were initially reluctant to give Malcolm permission to take it on board the flight back to the north east.

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