POLICE and DVLA officers seized 44 vehicles during a two day operation on the Isle of Wight targetting a range of road traffic offences.

In a joint operation with the DVLA on November 15 and 16, officers from the roads policing, neighbourhood policing, and commercial vehicle unit teams assisted the DVLA to target unlicensed, uninsured, and untaxed vehicles on the Island.

A police spokesperson said: "26 untaxed vehicles were seized by the DVLA. Fourteen of those vehicles have now been taxed.

"Nine vehicles were issued with penalty notices by the DVLA, six of those have now been taxed.

"A mobile DVLA unit also identified other untaxed vehicles which will receive postal notifications

"In addition, police officers also seized 18 vehicles, including 13 for having no insurance.

"One vehicle failed to stop at a checkpoint, but was found nearby with the driver located and reported for a number of offences including having no insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, no tax, and failing to stop for police.

"One driver was found to be disqualified from driving and was reported for this alongside having no insurance.

"Three drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving whilst impaired through drugs. They have all been released without charge, but remain under investigation.

"Two vehicles were immediately prohibited for vehicle defects by the commercial vehicle unit.

"A number of fixed penalty notices were also issued for no MOT certificates and other road traffic offences."

Sergeant Simon Morgan, of the Isle of Wight’s roads policing team, said: "I’m pleased that this joint operation was so successful and would like to thank our colleagues from the DVLA. There is a clear link between unlicensed, untaxed, and uninsured vehicles, and other forms of criminal activity or road safety.

"This is the fourth campaign that we’ve participated in with the DVLA on the Isle of Wight in recent years. It’s clear that the number of vehicles we identify, which do not have the correct credentials or paperwork, is decreasing each time.

"That shows the positive outcome of operations like this.

"We will continue to work with DVLA and other partner agencies in the next year to continue to improve road safety and to target vehicles and people that should not be on the Island's roads."