Dramatic increase in numbers driving while disqualified
‘We work closely with the DVLA so they will tell us if people have had licences removed’
The number of Kent drivers caught behind the wheel while disqualified has leapt from just three in 2010, to more than 200 last year.
And so far this year, 25 banned motorists have continued to use the county’s roads – which is more than the total for 2010, 2011 and 2012 combined.
The figures represent a whopping 70- fold increase in the number of disqualified drivers who flout the law.
If caught driving or attempting to while banned, it will land the driver with six points on their licence that will stay on record for four years from the date of the offence.
Chief Inspector Tony Dyer said: “I think [the rise] it’s down to more informed policing and we are a lot better engaged with the public now, so people can speak to us easily – whether it’s by phone or social media or going into police stations.
“We also work very closely with the DVLA so they will tell us in advance if people have had licences removed and I would suggest that is why we are seeing more people prosecuted because we are targeting the right people.”
The biggest jump in banned drivers caught since 2010 was between 2012 and 2013, where there was a 17- fold increase from nine cases to 155.
Since then, the number has gradually risen by an average of people 18 a year.
Drivers can be banned for a number of traffic offences, including if they are unfit through drink or drugs.
If a motorist reaches 12 or more points on their licence within three years, they are taken off the road for between six months and two years, depending on if they have been previously disqualified.
However, figures for driving while disqualified increase when looking at the total number of offences, rather than number of drivers who committed the crime.
This means that in some cases, drivers have committed the same offence more than once in any one year.
The total number of drivers caught behind the wheel when disqualified stands at 784 since 2010, and the total number of cases at 910.