MORE than 4,500 vehicles were seized in Bradford last year, according to police figures. 

Crashes, theft, and a lack of insurance were among the main reasons for hundreds of vehicle seizures in Bradford last year, police have revealed.

West Yorkshire Police seized 4,511 vehicles in Bradford during 2022 - with Volkswagen, Audi, and Ford among the most common makes seized.

Hundreds of these cars were confiscated for being uninsured, involved in a collision, abandoned, stolen and on behalf of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

In a Freedom of Information request, the force released details of the total number of vehicles seized in the past five years, the make of each vehicle, and the reason for each seizure.

The stark figures paint a picture of the issues blighting Bradford’s roads - from vehicles being unlicensed and burnt out to cars used in crime.

The total number of vehicle seizures has dropped by 35 per cent since 2018 - but police remain determined to “make the roads safer for all”. 

Sergeant Jamie Wilkinson, of the Steerside Enforcement Team, said: “We are committed to tackling anti-social, dangerous or illegal vehicle use across the area.

"Anti-social use of motor vehicles continues to be one of the most significant concerns of our communities.

“Through working closer in partnership with our communities we will continue to make the roads of Bradford safer for all.”

Police in Bradford took 812 Volkswagens, 420 Audis and 420 Fords off the roads in 2022. 

Vauxhall, Toyota, BMW, Peugeot, Seat, Mercedes and Honda rounded off the top ten most seized makes in Bradford.

Vehicles being driven without insurance were the top reason for seizures by West Yorkshire Police, who received 1,696 reports of this offence in 2022. 

More than 700 vehicles were seized after a road traffic collision and 678 vehicles had been abandoned. 

West Yorkshire Police can be called in by authorities - such as Bradford Council - to deal with abandoned vehicles linked to anti-social behaviour or other parking obstructions. 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: 12 Special Constables from Bradford district took part in a Steerside Operation in June 202212 Special Constables from Bradford district took part in a Steerside Operation in June 2022

Since 2016, Operation Steerside has deployed officers seven days a week in cars and on bikes.

The team sets out to catch people whose driving falls below the required standards.

The operation was partly-inspired by the T&A's Stop the Danger Drivers campaign.

Officers hope to educate drivers on how their driving could be impacting communities, neutralise the perception of bad driving in Bradford district, increase public confidence in policing, achieve a tangible reduction in anti-social driving, and gather intelligence in relation to offenders.

People can email bd.steerside@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk to report information to the Operation Steerside team. 

Last month, Bradford East Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) seized a car on Wrose Road after discovering a provisional licence holder behind the wheel. 

The driver was unsupervised while L plates were not on display.

Over on Norman Lane, the same NPT officers stopped a driver who did not have insurance.

Her insurance company had cancelled the policy for non-payment and the driver thought she’d take a chance.

The driver was caught, reported and her vehicle was seized.

The force has dealt with an array of different calls to action - including the seizure of a suspected stolen quad bike in December. 

The vehicle identification number and other identifying marks had been removed from the quad bike. 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: GENERIC PICTURE --- Sirens - Police car on the street at night

It comes weeks after Bradford was named the abandoned car capital outside of London by a national study.

Bradford Council received the highest number of abandoned vehicle reports between January 2020 and December 2022 - followed by Coventry City Council and Brighton & Hove City Council.

At the time, a spokesperson for Bradford Council said: “We will remove abandoned vehicles from the highway and from Council-owned land.

“But a vehicle that appears to be abandoned may not actually be abandoned, so we need to carry out an investigation.”

Bradford Council does not have legal powers to remove vehicles if the owner comes forward to claim it, it is not parked in violation of any restrictions, and has valid MOT, tax and insurance. The DVLA deals with untaxed vehicles which can be removed without notice.

The Council could potentially seize a non-abandoned vehicle if it is causing a nuisance. More information can be found by visiting www.bradford.gov.uk/transport-and-travel/abandoned-vehicles/abandoned-vehicles/