DUMPED cars are to be towed away within days as part of a new fast-track scheme due to be launched next month.
The joint plan by West Yorkshire Police and Kirklees Council aims to cut the time taken to remove the 3,000 vehicles abandoned every year.
From April 5 police will move cars, and store them while they check out ownership details.
The council will pay a fee for cars that are subsequently scrapped.
Clr David Payne, Kirklees Council's Cabinet member for environment and transportation, said discussions had been held with the aim of closer working to reduce the length of time cars are left dumped.
"Cutting the time cars and other vehicles are abandoned will achieve environmental improvements, crime reduction, and improvements in community safety.
"With the police taking over the job of inspecting and removing abandoned vehicles, the council's own enforcement team will be able to concentrate more on tackling fly-tipping and on other environmental crimes."
The plans aim to cut from around 15 days to four working days the time taken to remove vehicles abandoned on the streets. Clr Payne will be recommending to Cabinet on Wednesday to have a 12-month partnership trial with the police.
It will be reviewed after six months.
The council and police presently share responsibilities for dealing with abandoned vehicles.
Some 3,000 vehicles are dealt with each year and of those dealt with by the council, 50% are removed by the owners before final action has to be taken.
West Yorkshire Police removes around 25,000 vehicles a year of which around 4,000 are actually abandoned.
Cars dumped in Kirklees cost the Police £49,000 a year. The council spends around £35,000 on scrapping fees.
Last year abandoned cars countywide cost West Yorkshire Police over £200,000.
West Yorkshire Police officers attend to most reports of apparently abandoned vehicles, prior to referring them to local councils.
The new system aims to be more streamlined and use resources better.
