News - NSL

DVLA's new clampdown on untaxed vehicles has resulted in the number of cars being clamped or towed away in the UK more than doubling the 13 months to the end of June 2007.

More than 95,000 vehicles have had action taken against them since May 2006.

Part of the success of the operation has been due to the new high-tech vans, equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology - which instantly spot any vehicle using the roads without up to date tax.

Vehicles are targeted by a 300 strong team run by NCP Services on behalf of DVLA.

Bethan Beasley of DVLA's wheelclamping unit, said: "The people whose vehicles have been removed or clamped are hard-core offenders; not people who have just missed renewing their tax by a few days, but people who have shown no intention of taxing their vehicles. Routinely we find such vehicles have no insurance or MOT, these vehicles are dangerous and the best thing to do is immobilise them or get them off the streets as soon as possible."

NCP Services is running a fleet of high-tech ANPR vans, with cameras which can read number plates at up to 20 miles per hour, backed up with towaway vehicles and clampers.

Owners of clamped vehicles must pay a release fee of £80 and a valid vehicle licence must be produced.    They will also be pursued for any back tax that is owed.

Those vehicles that are impounded and not claimed after seven days could be broken up and recycled.

Tim Cowen of NCP Services said: “The streets of the UK will be safer because of this new campaign.

"It has never been easier to tax your vehicle, you can do it by post, over the phone, at a Post Office or Online, so there is no excuse for not doing it."

NCP Services has been operating the service on behalf of DVLA since May 2006. In the 12 months to May 2007 around 95,000 untaxed vehicles have been clamped or removed from the UK 's roads.

NCP Services' 300 strong team working for DVLA runs a fleet of more than 80 vehicles, including vans, which use ANPR technology.

ANPR vans read the number plate of every vehicle they pass, at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, and instantly identify any which are untaxed. The vehicles can then be instantly clamped.

Among the regional highlights of the campaign are 38, 052 vehicles being clamped or removed in London, nearly 7,000 in Scotland, and 5410 in Greater  Manchester.

For further information on the wheelclamping operation, contact NCP Services communications manager James Pritchard on 020 7290 6218 or Tim Cowen on 020 7290 2345.