Written question asked by Nigel Evans (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 12 March 2010. It was answered by Alan Campbell (Labour) on Monday, 15 March 2010 on behalf of the Home Office.

Motor Vehicles: Seized Articles

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cars were seized by Lancashire Constabulary for (a) crushing and (b) other means of disposal in each of the last five years.

Answer: [holding answer 12 March 2010]: The police are empowered to remove and store vehicles under various provisions, in particular the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (vehicles illegally, obstructively or dangerously parked or broken down or abandoned), the Road Traffic Act 1988 (vehicles driven without appropriate licence or insurance) and the Police Reform Act 2002 (vehicles causing alarm, distress or annoyance).The police must return these vehicles on payment of prescribed charges and satisfaction of any other prescribed conditions. If payment is not made or relevant conditions are not satisfied, the police may dispose of the vehicle concerned as they consider most appropriate, usually by crushing or sale. Information on the numbers of vehicles removed under the different powers and what subsequently happens to each of them is not collected centrally.

Secondary information