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This is a multi-agency approach aimed at dealing with
abandoned cars and untaxed vehicles more effectively than current
fragmented systems and the concept has been extensively piloted in
Kent.
The Kent Cubit Partnership consists of Kent County Council, Kent
Police, Medway Unitary Authority, the Kent district councils, Kent
Fire Brigade, and the DVLA.
The essential aims of the partnership are to provide a
comprehensive and speedy response that tackles not only abandoned
and unlicensed vehicles, but also actively encourages vehicle
licensing and discourages future abandonment.
How the scheme works
The basis of this operation is the immediate removal from the
public highway of any vehicles which are untaxed or whose tax is
out of date by more than one month, whether they are considered to
be abandoned or not.
The scheme also deals with the immediate removal of abandoned
vehicles on private land (such as private housing car parking
areas) by posting statutory notices in advance on the land.
If a vehicle is removed:
- vehicle owners will have to pay statutory fees plus any
back-tax to reclaim their vehicles
- vehicles not claimed within the prescribed periods (in most
cases this is seven days) will be sent for destruction
The benefits of the scheme
The associated benefits are:
- immediate removal (vehicles with statutory notices affixed
often became a target for vandals or arson attack)
- substantial induced vehicle taxation income to the
treasury
- reduced vehicle crime
- reduced vehicle fires
- reduced risk to the environment
- reduced risk of safety hazard to children
- reduced car tax avoidance
- overall improvement to quality of life to communities
- early and positive action against offenders/offensive
vehicles
The impact of the scheme
Since the scheme was launched in 2001, the team has dealt with
more than 4,500 abandoned and/or untaxed vehicles each year.
Records show a decrease in the number of abandoned vehicles. We
believe that Operation Cubit has made a significant contribution in
stemming the rising tide in abandoned vehicle numbers.
Based on its success, Operation Cubit was expanded in January 2003.
There are now two Cubit teams permanently operating in Kent and
Medway.
In future every area will receive target operations on a regular
basis, and ultimately the Kent Cubit Partnership aim to make Kent,
as far as possible, a no-go area for abandoned and untaxed
vehicles. |