Central London saw a high-profile police operation at the weekend that resulted in the seizure of dozens of high-value vehicles, including a rare Ferrari Monza SP2 worth around £3.7 million.
Operation targets anti-social and dangerous driving
The Metropolitan Police said the crackdown, focused on anti-social and dangerous driving and uninsured vehicles, led to the impounding of 90 cars with a combined estimated value of more than £8 million. Officers targeted motorists across Kensington, Chelsea and around Hyde Park, and made a number of arrests.
Among the vehicles taken was a convertible Ferrari Monza SP2 — a limited-edition model and one of only 499 examples — which had arrived in the UK the previous day after being imported from Saudi Arabia. The Met said the car, capable of 186mph, was stopped at a supercar gathering in Mayfair. The driver was driving on a provisional licence and had no insurance.
“We regularly hear from local people who are fed up with people driving cars dangerously in the area, or with modifications which make them a nuisance to those who live nearby.”
The comment came from Special Chief Inspector Geoff Tatman, who led the operation.
Eyewitness reaction and a viral moment
Video shared on social media showed a Met officer, wearing sunglasses, driving the open-top Ferrari under police escort through central London blue lights flashing, en route to the force pound. Several people stopped to take pictures as the convoy passed.
The footage prompted online speculation — one viewer joked the officer had won the drive in a workplace game — but the Met stressed the vehicle was being moved to secure storage as part of the seizure process.
New powers and the scale of enforcement
The operation used recently introduced powers that allow officers to seize vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour rather than issuing a warning. The Met said 15 of the seized vehicles were taken under these powers.
- Total vehicles seized: 90
- Estimated combined value: More than £8 million
- Vehicles seized under new powers: 15
- Notable seizure: Ferrari Monza SP2 (one of 499, worth c.£3.7m)
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Cars impounded | 90 |
| Estimated total value | £8m+ |
| Vehicles seized under new powers | 15 |
Where seizures took place
Officers carried out stops and impounded vehicles across a series of central locations. Photographs released by the force show police activity around Wellington Arch, near Hyde Park, and through Mayfair and the surrounding boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea. Several makes were mentioned by the Met in connection with the operation, including Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, McLarens, top-end BMWs, Mercedes and Range Rovers.
Residents in affected areas have long complained about modified and noisy cars disrupting streets and endangering pedestrians. The Met framed the weekend operation as a direct response to those local concerns and as part of broader efforts to deter reckless driving in central London.
Practical implications for owners and drivers
Police action highlights three immediate risks for motorists involved in such activity: seizure of the vehicle, potential arrest, and criminal prosecution where appropriate. The operation also demonstrates the force's ability to act quickly where insurance, licence status or dangerous driving is in question.
For owners of high-performance vehicles, those risks can be compounded if cars are driven by people who are not properly licenced or insured. The Met said vehicles will be held while investigations continue.
Enforcement sources said future operations will continue to focus on nuisance driving and road safety as part of the capital’s summer policing plan. Local people I spoke to welcomed the action, saying they hoped it would reduce late-night revving and dangerous behaviour on residential streets.
This was a visible, forceful response to persistent complaints about anti-social driving in London’s wealthier neighbourhoods. The sight of a high-value supercar being driven to the pound by an officer in sunglasses has captured public attention — but the wider, practical outcome for residents is the Met’s stated aim: fewer dangerous drivers on central London roads.
