Cars seized and knife suspect held in Birmingham police road safety crackdown

A biker with a knife was arrested and more than a dozen uninsured vehicles seized during a massive operation to improve road safety in Birmingham. Officers from the Roads Policing Unit and Hodge Hill Neighbourhood Team carried out the operation in Washwood Heath.

West Midlands Police seized 13 vehicles for having no insurance, with the drivers receiving £300 fines and six points on their licences. Police also recovered a stolen bike, where the rider was found to be in possession of a knife. He was arrested on suspicion of both offences, while another driver was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop following a short police chase.

It emerged this week that eight areas of the West Midlands - mostly in Birmingham - were among the top 15 locations in the UK for uninsured driving, with Birmingham's B11 postcode topping the list. Police said officers were supporting the Motor Insurers’ Bureau annual ‘Operation Drive Insured’ campaign this week, which sees police across the UK identify and remove uninsured drivers from roads.

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The West Midlands force said officers were making more use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to allow them to respond more quickly and effectively when cars involved in crime were spotted on the region’s roads.

It said road safety was a priority for the police force, with teams of officers dedicated to targeting criminals who use the roads and reducing the Fatal 4 offences - speeding, drink-driving, mobile phone use and not wearing a seatbelt - which are behind many serious collisions.