Kent Police, working alongside partner agencies, has seized and removed 43 untaxed vehicles from the streets of east Kent during a week-long operation.

In total, 11 vehicles were confiscated in Herne Bay, 10 in Whitstable and 22 in Canterbury between Monday 26 and Friday 30 October.

Targeting untaxed vehicles

Operation Cubit is a joint initiative between Kent Police, Canterbury City Council and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), that aims to quickly respond to the problem of untaxed, uninsured or abandoned vehicles, which can become a target for vandals.

Launched in 2001 across the whole of Kent, the scheme has contributed to a significant reduction in the number of abandoned and untaxed vehicles across the county.

Once removed from the streets, vehicles are taken to a compound.  Owners have to pay a £260 fine to reclaim their vehicle or provide proof of a valid tax disc and pay the appropriate storage/removal fee. Unclaimed vehicles are destroyed.

'Successful operation'

Inspector Terry Chuter, who leads the Canterbury and Coastal neighbourhood policing teams, said: 'This has been another successful operation and reinforces our commitment to removing as many untaxed and abandoned vehicles as we can to ensure that our residents can enjoy a better quality of life and cleaner streets. It is also about making the roads in the area safer. Often cars that are untaxed are uninsured and, in some cases, not roadworthy.

'The seizure of such a large number of vehicles is due to successful partnership working and planning where we can target key areas and vehicles.

'We know that local residents find these vehicles a blight on their neighbourhoods, so we would encourage them to let the council or their local neighbourhood police teams know of any other untaxed or abandoned vehicles in their area, so these can be dealt with the next time Operation Cubit is run in the area.'

Posted on: 20 November 2009