Passenger found sitting on garden chair inside cloned van stopped on the A12 near Witham
The van had eight others crammed in the rear without seatbelts.
Police in Essex pulled over a cloned van on the A12 near Witham on 10th October, uncovering a dangerous setup inside.
Officers from the Essex Roads Policing Unit stopped the vehicle during a routine patrol and discovered a passenger sitting on a garden chair in place of the front passenger seat.
In addition to the unsettling find, eight more passengers were found crammed into the rear of the van without any restraints or proper seating. Unsecured mattresses lined the back of the vehicle, adding to the risk of serious injury in case of a collision.
Enquiries confirmed the van was cloned, a serious offence that conceals a vehicle’s true identity, often linked to criminal activity.
The driver was also reported for multiple offences, including driving outside the terms of their licence and being uninsured. The van was seized at the scene.
“This wasn’t just illegal—it was life-threatening,” said PC Nathan Bright from Essex Police.
“In the event of a collision, unrestrained passengers can be thrown around the vehicle or even ejected, causing catastrophic injuries or death. A flimsy garden chair, not designed for travel, offers zero protection. And no seatbelts means every journey is a gamble.”