From the point of view of Welsh authorities, the All Wales Illegal Driver Campaign was a great success. All those illegal drivers may not agree, but using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and working with DVLA and the Motor Insurance Bureau, all four Welsh police forces plus Fire and Rescue services were involved in the operation. In the two weeks from 19th October to 2nd November, police nabbed more than 450 drivers, leading to 30 arrests and the seizure of about 420 vehicles.
The highest concentration of illegal drivers seemed to be in Gwent’s jurisdiction, with Gwent police confiscating 152 vehicles. They found 135 people driving without a license; only 106 were caught without a license in the rest of Wales. North and South Wales fell in the mid-range, while Dwyed-Powys police only seized 67 vehicles.
The traffic sweep was aimed at motorists driving whilst disqualified and those driving without insurance or without a valid driving permit. Some of the arrests made in the process are leading authorities to pursue other implementations of the campaign, such as burglary and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Lee Ford, Gwent Roads Policing Inspector, said that though the majority of drivers are responsible and law-abiding, it is “alarming” that so many choose to flout the driving laws. He added that the campaign is ongoing, not a one-shot thing, and drivers who are guilty of driving illegally should know that it’s a matter of when, not if, they get caught.
