MORE than 20 vehicles were seized as festival goers arrived and departed the Glastonbury site.

Avon & Somerset Police and the MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau) carried out checks on vehicles as they headed to – and left – Worthy Farm on June 25 and 30.

Using number plate recognition cameras and insurance databases, officers checked vehicles for insurance, seizing a total of 21 vehicles found to be uninsured or inadequately insured.

“The two-day operation was timed to coincide with the busiest arrival and departure days, ensuring maximum impact,” a spokesperson for the operation said.

During stops, police also detected a range of other criminal activity, including:

• Stolen vehicles
• Drivers who had been disqualified, had expired licences, or were attempting to use altered documents
• Three vehicles with fraudulent number plates
• 10 vehicles being driven without a valid MOT and 11 without having paid road tax

“Uninsured driving remains a serious problem across the UK, with someone falling victim to an uninsured or hit-and-run driver every 20 minutes,” the spokesperson went on.

“Removing uninsured vehicles from the road helps protect all road users from potential harm.

“Additionally, uninsured drivers are frequently linked to other criminal activities, including drug or drink driving, excessive speeding, and organised crime such as drug running.”

READ MORE: Glastonbury Festival news and views from your Somerset Leveller
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Matt Boiles, Roads Policing Inspector for Avon & Somerset Police, said: “Glastonbury is the UK’s largest music festival, bringing a significant increase in vehicles and traffic to the area each year.

“This operation enabled us to target uninsured vehicles both entering and leaving the site, helping to improve safety for those attending the festival, using surrounding roads, and living in the area.

“Our ongoing partnership with MIB ensures we can focus our efforts where they’re most effective, making a real impact in reducing the number of uninsured vehicles on the roads every day.

“High-profile opportunities like Glastonbury send a clear message to those who choose to break the law – you will be identified, and your vehicle will be seized, no matter where you are.”

Martin Saunders, head of uninsured driving prevention at MIB, added: “Uninsured driving is a problem every day of the year. Utilising events like Glastonbury, where there is a large influx of vehicles, allows us to not only target those who choose to drive uninsured, but provides us with an opportunity to educate those who are unaware.

“We urge all motorists to check their insurance policy is in place, is appropriate for their needs and to reach out to their insurer if they are unsure on any part of their policy – we don’t want any driver to become uninsured in the first place.

“We will continue to work with Avon and Somerset Police year-round to make sure that those choosing to drive uninsured have nowhere to hide.”