Streets cleared of abandoned cars

As well as abandoned cars rubbish is also cleared from the streets

Nearly 150 vehicles have been taken off the streets in the latest phases of an operation to get rid of dumped and untaxed cars in Kent.

On three different occasions checks were carried out in Thanet and offending vehicles removed.

A total of 83 cars were removed when the whole of Thanet was targeted.

In Cliftonville West 34 vehicles were taken off the streets and in Newington ward 27 cars were removed in two other phases of Operation Cubit.

'Minority of offenders'

The campaign is a funded by Kent County Council, Thanet District Council and the government.

Staff from the councils work with the police, DVLA and Sita to carry out the operation.

As well as removing abandoned cars, rubbish is cleared from the streets.

Nigel Cruttenden, from the Thanet Community Safety Partnership, said: "It is encouraging to see that each time we carry out an operation, the numbers of abandoned vehicles are falling.

"At the same time, the appearance of Thanet's roads is improving.

"The reduction in the number of car fires and the level of crime may also fall, as it is now only a minority of offenders that we are aiming to target in these campaigns."