AN ongoing joint operation between Thurrock Council and Essex Police to tackle illicit use of unlet council garages saw 89 garages searched and one vehicle seized.

The operation was launched last summer to make sure that unlet council garages are not being used to store nuisance or stolen vehicles.

During the search last Friday (14 January) the team, which included officers from the council's environmental enforcement and housing garages teams as well as officers from Essex Police, seized one vehicle and fly-tipped waste was found, investigated and cleared.

Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill who is also cabinet member for public protection and anti-social behaviour, said: "This is the latest in the ongoing operation to tackle anti-social behaviour and ensure that our assets are not being misused and to take nuisance vehicles out of circulation.

"We will continue this operation in the coming months as we crackdown on nuisance vehicles and improper use of council assets. Not only do residents end up suffering anti-social behaviour from the vehicles and those using them unlawfully but council tenants end up paying for the clearance and repair; money that could be better spent improving council homes.

"Residents will have a key role to play in this. By reporting incidents they help us to target our resources at the areas where we know they will have the greatest impact in helping to tackle this issue which negatively affects many of our residents. The best way to report these issues is by calling 101 or using Essex Police's Digital 101 service to report online."