Victim's family back car crushing

Police have crushed 310 cars in London since getting new powers to confiscate uninsured vehicles last July.

In 2004 18 people died and 471 were badly hurt by hit-and-run drivers - many of whom were uninsured.

Mandie Duffin, whose daughter Jodie, survived a crash after weeks on life support, said drivers did not realise the "devastation they leave behind".

'We were lucky'

Jodie, who was 12 when she was hit by a car in Morden, south-west London in July 2004, spent weeks on a life support machine.

Her parents published photographs of her hooked up to a ventilator to get the driver to come forward.

Later, 31-year-old Ian Beesley admitted driving without insurance and was given a community service order.

Mrs Duffin told BBC London: "We were lucky with Jodie. There are so many families out there who don't have loved ones or children because they were knocked down by these uninsured drivers.

"They just think they are getting away without paying their insurance but when they eventually have an accident, they have not idea of the devastation they leave behind."

The legislation came in on 6 July last year - allowing police to confiscate cars if drivers have no insurance - they have 14 days to get their vehicle back by proving they are insured.

Since then more than 1,300 vehicles have been seized - 310 were crushed, 40 auctioned and the rest returned to their owners.

Supt Ian Chappell of the Met's traffic unit told BBC London: "We know these people, the uninsured and unlicensed, are more likely to be involved in hit-and-runs, more likely to drive anti-socially and are more likely to be involved in crime."

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