Mr Softee 'You are nicked my son'
AN ICE-CREAM van driver found out the police are not a Softee touch when he was caught driving without insurance. Mr Softee was seized under Operation Reclaim while plying his trade on the Thames View Estate in Barking on May 11. Officers from Thames s
AN ICE-CREAM van driver found out the police are not a "Softee" touch when he was caught driving without insurance.
Mr Softee was seized under Operation Reclaim while plying his trade on the Thames View Estate in Barking on May 11.
Officers from Thames safer neighbourhood team, PC Nilesh Bhatt and PC Tom Seaward, stopped the ice-cream van after a number plate check revealed it had no insurance.
PC Bhatt said: "Not many people think to stop ice-cream vans but you never know what you might find.
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"It is dangerous to drive without insurance. But for an ice-cream van, with signs saying 'Mind that child' it seems particularly dangerous.
"The driver constantly has to watch out for children. Especially on the Thames View Estate where there are primary schools nearby."
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The officers pulled Mr Softee over in Thames Road and spoke to him, the driver claimed he believed he had insurance.
But police information from the Motorists' Insurance Bureau (MIB) stated otherwise.
The van was seized and impounded - the owner has 14 days to insure and collect the vehicle or it will be crushed.
Mr Softee was slapped with a �200 on the spot fine and his driver's licence will be endorsed with six penalty points.
PC Bhatt said: "Under Operation Reclaim motorists do not go to court when they are caught driving illegally.
"Instead they are fined then and there and if necessary their car is seized.
"This way we can take illegal drivers off our roads and make them safer for residents.
