Cumbria Police have initiated a programme to donate seized vehicles to Carlisle College, providing practical learning resources for students on mechanic and other vocational courses. On Thursday, 10 July, the first of six vehicles was delivered to the college.
These vehicles were originally confiscated under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act, typically due to no insurance or driving licence. As they remained unclaimed, Cumbria Police sought to repurpose them for community benefit.
The project is being funded by David Allen, Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, with logistical support for transportation provided by Egertons. Cumbria Police aims to supply six vehicles each academic term. Officers from the Roads Policing Unit and vehicle examiners, alongside the PFCC, are scheduled to visit the college in September to meet the students who will be working with these cars.
Inspector Jack Stabler of Cumbria Police’s Roads Policing Unit commented, “It’s a great way to ensure these vehicles are put to a positive use, helping young people working towards mechanical qualifications.” He added that this is a revival of a similar past project.
David Allen, Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, stated, “I’m delighted to see these cars which have been driven with no insurance or driver’s licences being used to positively impact our young people.” He emphasised that irresponsible driving has consequences, with seized vehicles either being used positively or crushed, as part of efforts to enhance community safety.
Source: Cumbria Constabulary
Alastair Mayne
This seems like an excellent idea. From what I hear from our apprentices the cars used at our local college are useless for training as they’ve been taken apart and (badly) put back together again, nothing works! If this provides a ‘drip feed’ of real vehicles they could then dispose of the old rubbish vehicles for scrap.