A MULTI-AGENCY operation aimed at ridding the streets of untaxed cars has resulted in 85 vehicles being seized by police.

The two-week long initiative, named Operation Cubit, involved police working with the DVLA and Swale Borough Council and began on Monday, October 17.

Cars were taken from streets across the borough in places such as Boughton, Bysing wood, Conyer, Murston, Milton, Newington, Marine Town, Blue Town, Leysdown, Minster, Rushenden and Queenborough.

A further 17 vehicles were found to be without road tax and their owners opted to pay the fee as roadside which meant their cars were not seized.

Five cars were dealt with for failing to have insurance and two cars were seized by police as they were believed to have been stolen. This resulted in three arrests.

PC Dick Denyer, who co-ordinated the initiative said: “Our actions reinforce our message that we are dedicated to making the roads of Swale safer and will work with our partners to ensure that we are effective and cause as little disruption to law-abiding road users as possible.

“Often abandoned cars attract vandals and, in some cases, arsonists. This can give the impression that an area is a ‘no-go’ zone and increase people’s fear of crime. We are keen to make sure we remove as many abandoned untaxed cars as we can so that Swale residents can enjoy a better quality of life and clean safe streets.

“I would like to thank all of our partners who have made this initiative so successful. We are all now working on the next operation which will be deployed in the near future.”

The second week of the scheme not only took action against untaxed cars but also concentrated on cleaning the streets of Sheerness.

The week, named Op Cubit Plus, was partially funded by Kent Fire and Rescue Service and involved clearing unlicensed bonfires and cracking down on graffiti and rubbish.