Uninsured motorists risk watching their cars meet the crusher

• Drivers without insurance could have their cars crushed in new campaign

• Number plate recognition technology to aid police in catching uninsured motorists

Officers will be deployed at locations across the Strathclyde Police area to crackdown on motorists who take to the road without a licence or insurance, as part of Operation Revoke.

Offenders run the risk of fines and having their vehicles crushed, the force said.

During the campaign, police will be using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology to target irresponsible motorists, who they say are putting lives at risk by driving illegally.

Between January and September this year, 3,206 cars were seized by officers and 4,069 motorists caught without insurance. In 2011, a total of 7,500 uninsured drivers were caught, with 3,753 vehicles seized in Strathclyde.

Of the cars seized this year, 634 have been disposed of either by being crushed or sold at auction.

Experts from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) will provide officers with specialist training about the more complex areas of insurance legislation over the coming days.

Earlier in the year, officers joined forces with MIB to run an operation in the east end and Southside of Glasgow, where 51 motorists were caught driving illegally.

Superintendent Jim Baird, from Strathclyde’s road policing unit, said: “We have to make an impact on the thinking of those who continually flout the law and drive uninsured or with the wrong insurance.

“Vehicles are insured for a reason and those who don’t do this pose an incredible risk to others and leave the rest of us who pay insurance to pick up the cost.

“Some people may think this is a victimless crime but we all pay the price. This type of crime impacts on everyone.

“Law-abiding motorists see their premiums raised and if they are involved in a collision with an uninsured vehicle, then they have the hassle of claiming against their own insurance and could lose their no claims bonus.

“The cost of this is passed on to us all.

“Anyone of the opinion that they can escape the law, can think again.

“Due to our continued pro-active policing and enforcement you are more likely than ever to be caught if uninsured. Do you really want to be fined, get points on your licence, or have your car crushed?

“While this part of the campaign is high-profile, high-visibility, please be assured that we will continue to pursue those who break the law.”

Dean Smith, from MIB, the body which compensates innocent victims of uninsured and untraced accidents, said: “We are pleased to support the initiative being undertaken by Strathclyde Police, and all police forces across the country, to reduce uninsured driving in the UK.

“Operations such as these demonstrate the important role that the Motor Insurance Database has to play in identifying uninsured vehicles.

“With an estimated 1.2 million drivers on our roads, there is still much work to be done and police enforcement activity such as today’s operation will continue to make a significant contribution to bringing this number down.”