Multi-Agency Operation Targets Uninsured Drivers on M62

The latest from the MIB who have been taking action alongside various Police forces to target some of the many uninsured drivers using Britain’s motorways.

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 183 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.

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.”

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.”