NO exceptions, no excuses and no escape that is the message from Hertfordshire Constabulary in the latest clampdown on road tax cheats.

Hertfordshire Constabulary were one of the first police forces in the country to be given new powers to deal with road tax cheats earlier this month.

These powers permit police officers to stop untaxed vehicles being driven on the road.

They can then ask the driver to pay a penalty or seize the vehicle until the penalty has been paid. If the penalty remains unpaid, the vehicle will be destroyed.

These powers have only previously been used by the DVLA.

Chief inspector Peter Brooks from Road Policing said: "These new powers will go a long way in helping Hertfordshire Constabulary tackle untaxed vehicles on the country's roads."

"There is a strong link between untaxed vehicles, road safety offences and crime. Motorists without a tax disc often also drive without insurance or MOT so they may be committing other offences such as driving with faulty brakes or bald tyres.

"These vehicles are often involved in criminal activity and anti-social behaviour-with their drivers posing a threat to other motorists and pedestrians as well as themselves."

Police officers will be working with authorised recovery teams, using the powers in several operations throughout the year.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) equipment will be used to support the operations officers.

Anyone who wants to report vehicles with out of date tax discs should call the DVLA hotline on 08000 325 202.