Operation Hopper Marks a Major Milestone in Tackling High Risk Motoring Offences One year on…

Leicestershire Police is marking the one‑year anniversary of Operation Hopper, a targeted enforcement initiative designed to identify and disrupt persistent motoring offenders who pose the greatest risk to road users.

Over the past 12 months, the operation has delivered significant results, reinforcing the force’s commitment to reducing serious harm on the roads.

Launched in response to rising concerns about uninsured drivers and repeat traffic offenders,

Operation Hopper has focused on locating vehicles linked to multiple speeding and red‑light offences, as well as those operating without valid insurance.

The results have been striking, over the last twelve months, officers have seized 105 vehicles, all of which were uninsured and collectively linked to over five hundred outstanding speeding or red‑light offences.

One driver alone had amassed 45 penalty points, far beyond the threshold that would normally trigger licence revocation.

Vehicles seized under the operation have been scrapped, sold at auction, or returned to finance companies, depending on legal status and ownership.

Intelligence sharing between the Road Safety Unit and the Roads Policing Unit has strengthened the force’s ability to identify high‑risk drivers quickly and effectively.

Matthew Chester, Road Safety Unit Manager at Leicestershire Police, said:

“Operation Hopper intends to send out a clear warning to those drivers who think they can flout the law and pose the highest risk to innocent road users.

Arrests have been made, cars have been seized, and we will continue to take decisive action to protect the public.”

“This anniversary marks not just a year of enforcement, but a year of partnership, prevention, and progress. Operation Hopper will continue to evolve as we work to make the roads across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland safer for everyone.”

The black BMW was sold at auction, the green camper van and both the white and black Mercedes were collected by their registered keepers.

A Year of Impact — and What Comes Next

Over its first year, Operation Hopper has become a key part of Leicestershire Police’s wider road‑safety strategy.

The operation supports the force’s long‑term commitment to reducing collisions, safeguarding communities, and ensuring that persistent offenders face meaningful consequences.

The next phase of Operation Hopper will see:

• Continued collaboration with the Road Safety Unit to expand intelligence‑led enforcement

  
  

• Enhanced use of data analytics to identify repeat offenders earlier

• Ongoing public engagement to raise awareness of the dangers posed by uninsured and high‑risk drivers

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