East London Man Charged in Driving Test Fraud Case as Cheating Rates Surge
An East London man has been arrested and charged in connection with a driving theory test fraud case in Hertford, as authorities report a dramatic nationwide increase in cheating attempts.
Arrest and Charges in Hertford Test Centre Incident
Solomon Tweneboah, aged 47, of Leather Gardens in Plaistow, was arrested on January 19 after staff at a Driving Theory Test Centre in Hertford reported that a candidate's driving licence photograph did not match their appearance. Police were called to the scene, leading to the arrest.
Mr Tweneboah has been charged with fraud by false representation and has been remanded into custody. Following an investigation by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), he has also been charged in connection with a number of other offences across the country.
PC Luke Griffin, who is leading the investigation, stated: "This type of crime has been prevalent across the country over recent years. Using a proxy to take your theory test is illegal and could land you with a criminal record."
He added: "Police work in partnership with the DVSA to ensure that standards are maintained and prevent unqualified drivers from causing problems on our roads."
Driving Test Cheating Attempts Rocket Nationwide
New figures reveal that driving test cheating attempts have increased by a staggering 47 per cent in just one year. According to DVSA statistics obtained through a Freedom of Information request, a total of 2,844 cases were recorded in the year to the end of September 2025.
This represents a significant rise from 1,940 cases during the previous twelve months, and 1,274 cases in the 2018/19 period. The DVSA has attributed this sharp increase to a combination of more widespread cheating attempts and improved detection methods by authorities.
Methods of Cheating and Test Backlog Concerns
The breakdown of cheating methods reveals several concerning trends:
- Technology-assisted cheating during theory tests, such as using Bluetooth earpieces connected to concealed mobile phones, accounted for the largest proportion of incidents in 2024/25 with 1,113 recorded cases
- Impersonation attempts during theory tests were recorded in 1,084 cases last year
- Impersonation during practical driving tests was recorded in 647 cases during the same period
This surge in cheating attempts comes amid a significant backlog for practical driving tests across the country, creating additional pressure on the testing system and potentially contributing to the increase in fraudulent behaviour.
The case involving Mr Tweneboah highlights the ongoing challenges faced by driving test authorities in maintaining the integrity of the testing process while dealing with increased demand and sophisticated cheating methods.
