POLICE seized three cars during a roadside operation after discovering they were being driven illegally.

Two were being driven without insurance and the other was seized because the motorist was currently banned from driving.

The operation, at the Millennium Centre, Dagenham, ran on September 16 from 11am – 2pm and included officers from four Safer Neighbourhood Teams, along with Road Safety Advisor Craig Elliot.

Operation Reclaim aims to promote road safety by removing illegal drivers and their vehicles from the roads.

Police said that Reclaim can also disrupt the activities of burglars transporting stolen goods.

During the three-hour initiative officers scanned the number plates of 1,996 vehicles, of which 23 were stopped.

Twelve warnings were also given to people driving without seatbelts or for using mobile phones while behind the wheel.