Met's new chief could seize cars with no insurance

Police in London could seize cars with no insurance following the earlier successful use of the tactic by new Met chief Bernard Hogan-Howe.

Mayor Boris Johnson today praised the scheme, carried out by Mr Hogan-Howe when he was in charge in Liverpool.

Officers impounded the cars and then put them on public display so owners could recognise and retrieve them.

It is thought to be one of the tough measures being considered by the new commissioner as part of a "total policing" war on crime. In an internal video message to officers and staff, Mr Hogan-Howe said: "No tactic - if it works - will be considered out of bounds. If it's legal, ethical, and done in good faith, I'm prepared to consider it."

He delivered a mission statement for his force, promising to cut crime and slash costs with "humility, transparency and integrity".

Mr Hogan-Howe promised to make the Metropolitan Police the best force in the world as he detailed his aims to officers.

He said: "It is my intention to build on public trust in the MPS and lead a service that criminals will fear, and staff will be proud to work for."

The ex-Merseyside chief, who takes over the £260,000-a-year post left vacant by Sir Paul Stephenson's resignation over the phone hacking scandal, said he wanted the force "to do what I call total policing".

"Some of you might recognise that phrase from my time in Merseyside. For those of you that don't, what I'm talking about is a war on crime."

He said he encouraged innovation and the use of new technology. Mr Hogan-Howe identified the Olympics and counter-terrorism as two of the biggest challenges for the force.

MPA Green Party member Jenny Jones said: "Some of Hogan-Howe's past innovations sound excellent, such as his very high-profile clampdown on illegal vehicles in Liverpool. The important thing about total policing is making sure you measure the downsides as well as the upsides."