NEARLY 3,000 cars have been removed and crushed in Operation Cubit, a determined blitz on abandoned vehicles and tax dodgers in Medway and throughout Kent. Abandoned cars are a focus for crime and arson and cost Kent's taxpayers over £1.5 million a year. Kent County Council's annual bill for scrapping cars has topped £1 million — a 10-fold increase over five years — while Medway Council has spent £130,000 in the last year, and district councils a further £400,000 plus.

Kent County Council's cabinet member for strategic planning, Sarah Hohler, said: "People who abandon cars are causing an environmental eyesore and a fire risk and are committing an offence by dumping their cars to avoid paying tax.

"Operation Cubit is a deliberate multi-agency deterrent to stop people acting irresponsibly in this way. Teaming up with Medway Council, the districts, emergency services and the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority means the initiative has had considerable impact."

The operation, which picks up and crushes vehicles within seven days, netted 1,100 cars in Dartford and Gravesham over three months. In separate operations during the last 12 months a further 2,511 cars were removed in Medway, 335 in Maidstone, 343 in Swale and 250 in Sevenoaks.

Kent's Chief Constable, Sir David Phillips, said: "Operation Cubit has been a great success so far. Abandoned and untaxed vehicles are frequently used by criminals and create a culture within which crime can flourish."

Cllr Rodney Chambers, the leader of Medway Council, said: "We investigated more than 5,000 abandoned vehicles in Medway last year and removed more than 2,000 for disposal.

"The partnership approach of Operation Cubit will mean an effective clean-up of our streets and sends a message that none of the authorities concerned will tolerate the current levels of anti-social car dumping."