The Metropolitan Police have set up a new specialist unit in a bid to track down and apprehend ‘crash for cash’ criminals.

The most renowned ‘crash for cash’ fraudster, Mohammed Patel, was jailed last month for causing at least 93 car crashes over a three-year period. And experts believe this is just the tip of the iceberg.

A recent report from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) suggests this type of car insurance scam could be costing insurers £350 million every year. Claims can be worth up to £50,000 when legal fees, personal injury claims, accident damage, vehicle storage and courtesy car hire are taken into account. This in turn pushes up the cost of car insurance policies for customers across the UK.

However, the Met’s chief concern is that this type of scam could end up causing serious injury and even fatalities. It has started training traffic officers to spot the signs of suspicious accidents and is warning staff that the swindles are becoming more and more frequent and sophisticated.

Steve Sweeney, head of motor insurance at moneysupermarket.com, recently said: “Desperate times do often call for desperate measures, but surely this is a step too far for British motorists. We have all been affected by the recession in one way or another, but crashing for cash is not only illegal but wilfully endangers the lives of others.”

He added: “Any motor insurance claim proved to involve an organised accident will be considered as fraudulent by an insurer, and is likely to have drastic, long-term affects on your motoring as a consequence. If found guilty, an official “fraud mark” could be added to your license. This will prompt your insurer to void existing cover and probably refuse you cover in the future.”