Gwent Police seize more than 300 'illegally-driven' cars

Between Sunday, March 1 and Saturday, May 2, Gwent Police seized 261 vehicles for motorists driving without valid motor insurance and 28 for not driving a licence, a spokesman said.

And a further 40 vehicles were taken off the roads in the same period because the driver had neither valid insurance nor a driving licence.

(This vehicle was seized as the car was "uninsured", said Gwent Police.)

(This vehicle was seized as the driver only had a provisional licence and was not accompanied bt a supervised licence holder or had L-plates, police said. Picture: Gwent Police.)

Since the start of government guidelines around coronavirus, police have been conducting roadside checks, ensuring only essential journeys are taken.

On average, 44 "illegally-driven" vehicles have been seized per week in the force area.

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The "drastic reduction" in traffic has allowed police to "easily identify vehicles which are being driven illegally," said Superintendent Glyn Fernquest, of Gwent Police’s operational support unit.

He added: “The law around driving an insured vehicle and owning a valid driving licence has not changed – these are still mandatory requirements to be in command of a vehicle on our roads.

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“Having neither of these essential documents is even worse and there can be no excuses for this – you must have insurance and an in-date driving licence.

"If you are caught driving without insurance or a licence, or both, you will face enforcement action as you can at any other time of the year.”