A JOINT operation between Thurrock Council and Essex Police to stamp out the illicit use of un-let council garages to store nuisance vehicles today (Friday, 26 February) saw a further 76 garages searched, this time in the South Ockendon and Aveley area.

Officers from the council's enforcement and housing teams and Essex Police joined forces to search garages and make sure they are not being unlawfully used to store anything including stolen vehicles or quad and motorbikes used by anti-social off-road motorcyclists.

So far the joint operation has searched more than 300 council owned garages in the borough.

On this occasion no vehicles were found but fly-tipped waste was investigated and removed.

Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill, who joined officers during the operation, said: "These searches ensure that our assets are not being misused, or abused by those who seek to cause nuisance and anti-social behaviour by illegally riding motor or quad bikes on our green spaces.

"This operation will continue. Residents suffer the nuisance caused by these selfish off-roaders and our tenants end up footing the bill for the clearance and repair; money that could be better spent improving council homes.

"These garages are council property and if they are not in use or being misused then it would be appropriate for us to investigate converting them into new social housing, as we have seen in Chadwell St Mary. We must ensure we use all of our assets to support our council tenants and the borough's residents as a whole."

The council advises the best way to report nuisance motorcycle crime is by using Essex Police's Digital 101 service. Anyone who believes council properties are being misused should contact Thurrock Council via this link.