Almost 40 vehicles have been seized from Swale's streets after a police crackdown.

Kent Police, working with partner agencies, seized a total of 37 untaxed vehicles from around the borough during a week long operation.

During Operation Cubit, 12 vehicles were caught in Sheppey, 17 in Sittingbourne and eight in Faversham.

Three offenders paid an on the spot penalty of £260 and they must get their vehicles taxed within 14 days and 34 cars were seized and taken away to be crushed or re-sold.environmental response manager for

The crackdown is a joint initiative with Kent Police, Swale council and the DVLA, which aims to quickly respond to the problem of untaxed, uninsured or abandoned vehicles, which can become a target for vandals.

During Cubit, vehicles can be clamped, confiscated or removed and unless registered owners are able to pay the tax owing and provide valid MOT and insurance the vehicle will be crushed or cubed.

Swale borough commander, Chief Insp Tony Henley, 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, safer streets."

Alister Andrews, Swale council's environmental response manager, said: "We are pleased. By working with our colleagues at Kent Police, DVLA, and Kent County Council we have caught motorists who have failed to tax their vehicles and also managed to rid communities of abandoned cars.

"Operations like these go a long way towards our objectives of creating a cleaner and a safer Kent."