A CRACKDOWN on uninsured motorists has seen more than 200 cars seized in north Kent since April.

Almost 1,500 vehicles were seized across the county by Kent Police during a five-month crackdown on uninsured drivers in Kent.

From April north Kent Police has been given powers to seize vehicles which are being driven without insurance or a valid licence.

Officers can remove vehicles from the road and hold them for 14 days until the driver produces all the necessary documents.

Before the new powers, police could only stop drivers and make them leave their vehicles.

But Kent Police Inspector Geoff Wood says the old way of doing things was not sufficient.

He said: "We would tell the drivers to pull over and not drive the car until they were insured.

"But we couldn't tell if they would get straight back into it when we pulled off.

"This way we can be sure the drivers are not going to be a hazard on the road."

Drivers using a vehicle illegally can now expect their car to be taken from them and held at a police station.

Offenders will be made to pay a £150 fine and an extra £12 for each day it is held at the station.

On top of the fine, drivers could receive between six and eight penalty points on their licences and face being prosecuted in court.

Insp Wood says only 30 per cent of vehicles are being claimed once they are seized.

He said: "The majority of the cars we seize are not in good condition so it works out too expensive for people to pick them up.

"Lots of people who are driving without insurance and without a licence will be driving poorly.

"We are hoping by enforcing this we will be increasing the safety of other drivers on the road."