West Midlands Police have deployed a new ANPR-equipped police car funded by the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) to crack down on uninsured driving. The dual-branded Toyota Corolla was handed over at the force's Road Crime Team base in Perry Barr on 12th August and is now in active use on targeted operations.
Immediate Impact: 21 Vehicles Seized
Within moments of the key handover, the vehicle joined an operation in the local area, assisting officers in the seizure of 21 uninsured vehicles. The operation also uncovered several secondary offences, including four arrests for offences such as driving whilst disqualified, theft and possession of Class B drugs. Additionally, 19 cars had misrepresented registrations, 10 cars had no valid road tax, 5 cars had no MOT, and 6 vehicles were found to be in an unroadworthy condition.
The car is fitted with in-built Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), which checks vehicle number plates against Navigate, MIB's central record of insured vehicles in the UK. This allows officers to quickly identify and stop suspected uninsured drivers, according to an MIB spokesperson.
Supporting Special Constables
Special Constables within West Midlands Police are fully warranted volunteer officers with the same powers as regular officers to stop and seize vehicles that appear to have no valid insurance. However, a limited amount of appropriate response cars being available can restrict their ability to act. To support these officers, MIB has funded the dual-branded Toyota Corolla.
The car will help to give consistent vehicle access to officers so that they can tackle uninsured driving and make the West Midlands safer, the MIB spokesperson said. West Midlands is the third police force to receive a dual-branded MIB vehicle, following successful pilots with Avon and Somerset & Staffordshire Police in recent months which led to over 200 uninsured vehicles being taken off roads.
Rising Seizure Figures
Uninsured driving remains a persistent issue in the West Midlands. The force seized 8,153 uninsured vehicles in 2024, rising to 9,260 in 2025, demonstrating the continued importance of dedicated resources to tackle this offence. As well as the running of the new ANPR-equipped police car, West Midlands Police aim to surpass their previous year's seizure figures through their continued involvement in the MIB-funded Op Scalis initiative.
Op Scalis enables participating forces to dedicate officer time to tackling uninsured driving in key hotspots across their region, identified through data-driven insights such as uninsured claims submitted to MIB.
Police and MIB Statements
Superintendent Jack Hadley, Head of Roads Policing at West Midlands Police, said: "Keeping everyone safe on our roads and motorways is a priority for us and this fantastic donation by MIB will be a great addition to our fleet. Many of our Special Constables have day jobs and on top of that they volunteer their spare time to reduce crime and keep our roads safe.
"Our ongoing partnership with MIB to reduce serious and fatal collisions on our roads continues and this new addition will strengthen our continued work with them. Driving without insurance is reckless and dangerous and puts lives at risk every single day. If you're driving uninsured, you're not just risking your car - you're risking lives, your future, and your freedom. Think before getting behind the wheel."
Hayley Sutcliffe, Law Enforcement Liaison Officer at MIB, added: "We're incredibly proud to support West Midlands Special Constables with this dedicated ANPR-equipped vehicle, allowing them to better focus on reducing uninsured driving. These volunteers give up their own time to help make our roads safer, and having reliable access to equipment will make a significant change to their ability to identify and remove uninsured vehicles.
"We hope the visibility of this new car encourages drivers to drive safely and double-check their insurance policy to ensure they are insured and have the right cover for their needs. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this vehicle has on the local community and our ever-strengthening relationship with West Midlands Police."
