Dozens of unlicensed and untaxed vehicles have been removed from the streets of Newham by police.

Officers used automatic number plate recognition technology to carry out the two-day crackdown on illegal cars last weekend.

A total of 31 illegal vehicles were seized, with one arrest for disqualified driving and 41 drivers reported for document offences.

The blitz was part of Operation Reclaim, a Met-wide initiative, which launched in Newham in November 2008 in partnership with Newham Council.

Insp Phil Stinger said: “This activity contributes to a larger crackdown on motor vehicle crime in the borough.

“We’re sending out a clear message that if you drive illegally there is a serious risk of you losing your car.

“We’re doing this to protect innocent road users left with injuries or expensive damage as a result of someone else’s disregard for the law.”