Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cars have been confiscated by order of a court under section 143 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Section 143 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 allows the courts to make an order depriving an offender of his rights to articles used, or intended to be used, for the purpose of committing an offence. In specified circumstances a court may order an offender to be deprived of a vehicle under this power. Decisions whether to impose forfeiture orders in individual cases are a matter solely for our independent courts.

The number of cars ordered to be forfeit is not centrally recorded. In 2013 the courts ordered the forfeiture of a vehicle, ship or aircraft in respect of 164 offenders, excluding summary motoring offences. Reliable information for previous years is not available.