Operation Wolverine recovers more than £2 million through vehicle seizures in 2023

Operation Wolverine

Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Wolverine has recovered £2,227,571.36 from 10,990 vehicles that were seized during 2023.

The Specialist Operations Branch operation, led by Sergeant Mike Lawrenson, broke the 1,000 seizures per month mark back in July 2023 and then again in August 2023 before reaching 10,000 seizures at the start of December.

Operation Wolverine, a constant proactive operation, is helping to reduce the number of serious and fatal collisions on motorways and roads, seeing a 31% reduction since 2021 equating to around 23 preventable deaths.

The operation gives officers the power to seize uninsured vehicles and those driven without the correct licence through a specialist team of traffic officers.

The unit was set up in 2007 to specifically tackle this type of crime, as it addresses loopholes in insurance legislation.

If a vehicle has been seized, drivers have 14 days to prove satisfactory ownership and provide a legitimate insurance for the vehicle.

Should the vehicle not be recovered by the owner they are auctioned with the proceeds being re-invested back into policing and towards community projects that help prevent and tackle crime throughout Greater Manchester.

Wolverine scooped two awards in October 2023 when the team picked up the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s award for ‘Outstanding Contribution for Road Safety’ at the UK Road Offender Education Awards, and then winning the ‘Operation of the Year’ award at the Chief’s Constable’s Annual Awards.

Mike Lawrenson said: “First of all I would like to thank the team for all their hard work during 2023, it was a special year for us for many reasons and a year we can look back on with great pride.

“We had a target in mind of what we wanted to achieve, and I think we achieved that and then some. We will continue to take uninsured vehicles off the roads and build on the fantastic results we achieved last year.”