Undercover police officers will be deployed on London’s roads using unbranded bicycles to catch dangerous drivers who pass cyclists too closely.

Plain clothes officers wearing video cameras will be dispatched to accident black spots in a bid to tackle bad driving under the “space for cyclists” scheme.

The new tactic is designed to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on the capital’s roads.

Drivers caught making close passes, tailgating or cutting up cyclists by making unsafe left or right turns across bike lanes will be targeted.

The latest figures for cycling deaths and injuries show that 18,844 cyclists were hurt or killed on Britain’s roads in 2015.

Bike-mounted officers will be sent to any location based on police intelligence and complaints from the public. Once a driver is witnessed driving dangerously, a nearby marked police motorcycle rider will be alerted.

Bad drivers will be required to pass a roadside eyesight test, have their vehicle checked for roadworthiness and have the Highway Code explained to them. The most serious offenders will face a court appearance.

The first car stopped under the scheme on Friday morning had no insurance, MOT or tax, and was impounded.

A bus driver was also recorded passing less than 30cm from the cycling officer.

The Highway Code states drivers overtaking cyclists must give at least give as much space as they would a car.

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Duncan Dollimore, senior road safety officer at Cycling UK, told The Independent: “When the Metropolitan Police pulled over drivers in Peckham this morning for overtaking cyclists too close, it was no surprise to discover that some of those spoken to were also driving untaxed vehicles with no insurance.

“Other forces conducting similar operations have experienced exactly the same, showing that a small investment of time and resources in a simple enforcement operation can prove really effective.”

​Ashok Sinha, chief executive of the London Cycling Campaign, added: “Drivers passing too close is terrifying and off-putting to people cycling.

“Most people cite road danger and near misses as major reasons why they don’t cycle.

“The Highway Code requires drivers give safe space to cyclists when overtaking.

“This welcome operation on close passes will send a message to drivers in London to obey the Highway Code and stay wider of the rider.”

A spate of cycle deaths in London earlier this year put pressure on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to improve safety for cyclists by providing more segregated cycle lanes.

In one case, a cyclist in his 30s was dragged at least 20 yards under the wheels of a lorry before the driver was alerted by other motorists to the mangled bike in his wheels.

City Hall defended its record on road safety, saying the cycling budget for 2016/17 was £127m – eclipsing the average yearly spend under the previous mayor, Boris Johnson, of £79m.

London's injured cyclists Show all 10 1 /10 London's injured cyclists London's injured cyclists Lycra-wearing road warrior Structural engineer Will Linton, 25, was knocked off his bike by a driver opening a car door on him. The result was a broken collar bone, weeks of pain and numerous operations to put it right and reduce the discolouration and scarring. Fiona Garden London's injured cyclists Bearing the scars Wills says: "Cycling in London is safe, I've just been unlucky. There is a risk that the graphic nature of my injuries could put people off, but that's not the point. I got back on my bike as soon as I could, and thankfully now the scars are fading." Fiona Garden London's injured cyclists Maya Ross suffered a head injury Neil Grayshon’s book Cycling Shouldn't Hurt is just as much a campaign project as it is a commercial book deal Fiona Garden London's injured cyclists A close-up of Maya's scar Grayshon aims to how "the human scale and reality of what happens when London's almost criminal infrastructure lets cyclists down" Fiona Garden London's injured cyclists Daniel Wolman injured his knee in an accident Grayshon says his project isn't intended to put people off cycling Fiona Garden London's injured cyclists Walking wounded A close-up of Daniel Wolman's injured knee Fiona Garden London's injured cyclists Albert Beale was left bruised by a cycling accident The project is continuing its search for subjects at this weekend's Spin London cycling exhibition (spinldn.com) Fiona Garden London's injured cyclists Black and blue Albert Beale reveals his bruises Fiona Garden London's injured cyclists Marcel Smith had to use crutches after his accident The book will be debuted with a mass participation protest ride to deliver copies to London Mayor Boris Johnson and the leaders of London's local authorities Fiona Garden London's injured cyclists Call to arms Marcel Smith reveals his gruesome injuries Fiona Garden

Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, expressed support for the police initiative and said the mayor’s office was “working hard to build high-quality safe routes to encourage even more people to cycle”.

Sergeant Andy Osborne, of the Met’s Cycle Safety Team, said: “This tactic is about education and encouraging motorists who do not comply with the rules of the road to start doing so – for everyone’s safety and protection – theirs included.

“There is a lot of traffic in the capital and we all need to share the roads and be mindful of other road users. In its simplest form, it’s about being courteous to one another.

“By all road users obeying the Highway Code, collectively we can help lessen incidents of people being killed or seriously injured on the roads.”