Driving fines for foreigners unenforceable, admits Met

THOUSANDS of foreign drivers are caught on London speed cameras but escape punishment because they are untraceable, Scotland Yard said today.

Figures released by the Metropolitan Police revealed speed cameras were activated by foreign-registered vehicles on 8,880 occasions in 2007-08.

But the force admitted the "majority" escape legal action because officers are almost powerless to identify them.

Senior officers could only find four examples of foreign drivers who have been prosecuted for more serious driving offences.

They blame a lack of access to foreign databases and the fact driver summons papers are unenforceable outside Britain.

Jenny Jones, a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, called for a change in the law to give police better access to vehicle information held across borders.

She said: "Drivers avoiding fines are costing London millions in lost revenue, but more importantly it means that these foreign drivers are ignoring the rules of the road.This is bad for safety."

A Met spokeswoman said: "The Met is working with its partners including UK Immigration to ensure more of these offenders can be brought to justice."