Police forces will be able to raid the homes of drivers suspected of dodging the new eVED pay-per-mile car tax introduced by the Labour Party government, under powers confirmed by the administration of Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The new rules allow police officers to "enter any premises" where a vehicle is registered and "inspect or test" and "detain" family vehicles. They can do so "for such time as is required to inspect or test it," the laws stipulate. Officers can also force motorists to "move the vehicle to a place where an inspection or test can be carried out."
eVED scheme details and background
The eVED scheme was first announced by Rachel Reeves, the former Labour Party Chancellor. It will be inherited by Andy Burnham, who succeeded Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister this summer. Mr Burnham's administration has confirmed it will plough ahead with the new tax system, which introduces a 3p per mile charge for EVs.
The aim of eVED is to equalise car tax charges for all motorists, regardless of whether they drive an EV or a petrol or diesel vehicle. The scheme has sparked warnings from campaigners and civil rights groups about the extent of the new enforcement powers.
Conservative criticism and civil liberties concerns
Conservative Party shadow transport minister Greg Smith said of the draft law: "Labour's electric car tax comes with a shocking little extra – the right for inspectors to turn up at your home and poke around your car."
He added: "Labour wants to tax every mile you drive and give inspectors sweeping powers to enter premises, inspect your car and drive it away. Labour's war on drivers has gone into overdrive. This is Big Brother with a clipboard and a set of car keys. Conservatives will always stand up for drivers."
Josie Appleton, director of the Campaign for Freedom in Everyday Life, which campaigns against draconian regulations, added: "Why does every new policy come with powers for officials to enter your home and/or seize your property? This is little more than another power grab by the state."
FairFuelUK condemns enforcement approach
Howard Cox, founder of the FairFuelUK campaign, said: "Raiding people's homes over mileage readings is pure Big Brother madness. Police shouldn't be acting as Labour's mileage enforcers while real criminals walk free. This pay-per-mile scheme is draconian, intrusive and a blatant escalation of the war on drivers."
He added: "It's yet another heavy-handed attack on motorists from a government obsessed with control and grabbing even more cash from the highest taxed drivers in the world." The new enforcement powers will apply to vehicles registered under the eVED scheme, with inspections and tests able to be carried out at any premises where a vehicle is located.
