More than 2,000 cars in the North-East have been clamped or towed away since May last year as part of a crackdown on tax dodgers.

A total of 2,341 untaxed cars were successfully targeted in the 13 month period up to the end of June 2007.

The crackdown by the DVLA was co-ordinated through NCP Services, on behalf of the agency.

Nationally the number of vehicles immobilised or removed has doubled since May 2006, in part due to the success of new hi-tech Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems.

NCP services has a fleet of vans using ANPR technology which can instantly spot any vehicle on the road without up to date tax.

The vans have cameras which can read the number plates of vehicles at up to 20 miles per hour, and are backed up with towaway vehicles and clampers.

Bethan Beasley, of DVLA's wheelclamping unit, said: "The people whose vehicles have been removed or clamped are hard-core offenders; not people who have just missed renewing their tax by a few days, but people who have shown no intention of taxing their vehicles.

Routinely we find such vehicles have no insurance or MOT. These vehicles are dangerous and the best thing to do is immobilise them or get them off the streets as soon as possible."

Tim Cowen, of NCP Services, added: "The streets of the North-East will be safer because of this new campaign.

Owners of clamped vehicles must pay a fee of 80 and a valid vehicle licence must be produced in order for it to be released.

They will also be pursued for any back tax that is owed.

Those that are impounded can be destroyed after seven days, if not claimed.

* About 7,000 vehicles were clamped or towed away in Yorkshire during the same period.

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