MORE than 2,000 uninsured cars have been seized, and more than half of them crushed, by Hertfordshire Police in the last six months. A total of 2,056 vehicles were seized from August 1 to last Friday, of which more than 1,200 were destroyed. The rest were

MORE than 2,000 uninsured cars have been seized, and more than half of them crushed, by Hertfordshire Police in the last six months.

A total of 2,056 vehicles were seized from August 1 to last Friday, of which more than 1,200 were destroyed.

The rest were recovered by owners.

Herts chief constable Frank Whiteley symbolically crushed the 2,000th car to be seized.

The clampdown followed legislation intended to improve safety and deny criminals road use, allowing police to seize any car without insurance or an appropriate driving licence.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has taken a lead in enforcing the new law, with about 10 per cent of vehicles seized nationally under the new law being taken in the county.

Nearly 500 vehicles were taken in January, and seven were even taken on Christmas day.

Seized vehicles are taken to a secure compound, and drivers given seven working days to produce the necessary documents.

Owners must also pay a recovery charge of £105 and a storage charge of £12 a day. Any cars not claimed within 14 days are crushed.

Motorists caught driving without insurance or an appropriate licence will be charged with driving offences, and could face fines or even a jail term.

Insp Keith Tilley of the strategic road policing unit, said: "We will not take any excuses or make any exceptions - if you don't obey the law we'll make sure that you pay the price.