Thanks dvd. As far as the MCO is concerned (see previous post), there is nothing outstanding against him, i.e. he completed the course as required. He tells me that on arrival at the course he signed in, and at the end signed out. I don't know about a paper trail, tho' I will ask him. I would imagine that he can show one, and I know he is very determined to get redress eventually, once he has go his licence and van back. Would you know whether Suffolk SPC is obliged to update the register of those completing SACs?

As for insurance, he phoned his insurance company and was told that since his licence had been suspended, his insurance was void and that he would be receiving a letter to that effect. He tried to get temporary insurance, and even found a company which would provide insurance for a driver who was not the owner of the vehicle, so that a friend could retrieve the van while the owner technically did not have a licence, but the moment he declared that the vehicle had been seized, all bets were off.

In posting this matter here I think I was hoping that someone would come back and tell me that though a PC on traffic duty had no option but to seize the vehicle, someone higher up in the police hierarchy might have the discretion to waive the seizure if he/she were convinced that a mistake had been made. It seems to me so unfair that someone can be deprived of their livelihood for up to three weeks as the result of a bureaucratic blunder.

In the circumstances I think that your friend should speak to a solicitor-he needs a bit more firepower than he is able to generate himself to get the wheels of the system moving.

Perhaps he could avail himself of the usual free half-hour that most decent solicitors offer as an introduction, it's saved my bacon in the past and proved well worth it.