More uninsured vehicles were seized in Newham than anywhere else in London on Tuesday during a police operation targeting illegal drivers.

Newham police joined city-wide Operation Cubo to crack down on rogue motorists on the drive home for Christmas.

A total of 40 vehicles were seized and five people were arrested - one for driving while disqualified, two for handling stolen goods, one for fraud, and one from a road traffic accident.

The officers were checking cars in East Ham at the junction of Barking Road and the A406 North Circular from 7.30am to 5pm.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “Operation Cubo was the first dedicated day targeting a specific crime and involving officers from across the Met we ran after I became Commissioner.

“We knew that around 80 per cent of uninsured drivers are criminals and are more likely to be involved in crashes.

“Cubo’s great success illustrates this - with more than 1,000 arrests for a range of offences - and if for example we take a car off a repeat burglar we’ll make it more difficult for them to offend.”

Since the Commissioner launched Operation Cubo in October 2011, the total number of vehicles seized has risen to more than 44,000 - the most the Met has ever seized in one year - and more than 1,000 people have been arrested under Cubo for offences including rape, possession of illegal firearms, money laundering and drugs.