How to report an abandoned vehicle
A free phone hot line has been set up to make
it easier for members of the public to report suspected abandoned
vehicles. The hot line is available 24 hours a day, 7
days days a week.
The hot line number is: 0800 169 4466
When you report a suspected abandoned vehicle
you will be asked to provide details of the registration number,
type and condition of the vehicle and its location. The more
information you can provide the sooner it can be investigated and
if considered to be abandoned, removed.
Which vehicles are removed?
The vehicle will be removed if it is in a
dangerous and unroadworthy condition, is untaxed or has no current
registered keeper or has not been removed by the owner within a
specified length of time after a notice of removal has been placed
on the vehicle. Caravans are classed as vehicles and are treated in
exactly the same way as cars.
Service Standard
We aim to remove at least 90% of
abandoned vehicles within 24 hours of their being reported. Note
that vehicles on private land may take longer as we need the
permission of the land owner before undertaking
the removal.
Why are abandoned vehicles removed?
The number of vehicles being abandoned
throughout the UK has rapidly escalated in recent years. These
vehicles are an eyesore and often become targets for acts of
vandalism and arson. Burnt out vehicles in particular pose a
serious risk to public health and safety and should be removed
immediately.
What is AVAIL?
The County Council has been working in
partnership with Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service,
Northumbria Police and Government Office for the North East to
address the problem of abandoned vehicles. As a result of this the
Abandoned Vehicle Action Information and Liaison (AVAIL) scheme has
been established. Under the AVAIL scheme the County Council is now
able to make use of Northumbria Police’s Vehicle Recovery staff and
several specialist vehicle recovery operators to remove abandoned
vehicles quickly and efficiently.
These new arrangements have significantly
increased the speed at which abandoned vehicles are identified and
removed, thus reducing the risk of arson, vandalism and anti social
behaviour, with the benefit of improving the quality of the
environment for local communities.
In order to help speed up the removal of
abandoned vehicles a free phone hot line number has been
established on 0800 169 4466. Any member of the public can use this
to report abandoned vehicles.
