Abandoned vehicles
Environmental Protection Officers investigated 139 reports of abandoned vehicles in June 2026, which has led to a total of 91 vehicles being removed from the public highway. Of those vehicles, 77 were untaxed.
Multi Agency Road Safety Operation
Licensing Enforcement Officers along with four councillors have undertaken a multi-agency operation with West Midlands Police, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the Highways Road Safety Team, looking out for vehicles used to collect scrap and to conduct compliance inspections on taxi vehicles, situated at the Sandwell Aquatic Centre in Smethwick.
As part of the operation, thirty vehicles were pulled onto the site. Sixteen drivers were reported for offences including a scrap collector vehicle, the driver was identified as not holding a Scrap Collectors Licence and has been issued with a warning and sent application packs to apply for a Scrap Collectors Licence. One Sandwell licensed taxi vehicle, the driver was given small advisories by officers. Four vehicles were seized for having no insurance and two vehicles were seized for having no road tax - one of those drivers were also arrested for drug driving. Five vehicles were probihited by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency for being unsafe and unroadworthy. Two people were placed under arrest by Home Office immigration.
Waste Management
This vehicle was used to fly tip waste on 26 February 2026 off Gale Walk/Lightfields Walk in Rowley Regis. The registration in the photos RAV SB is visible, but unfortunately not valid. The waste was cleared up by colleagues from our waste partner Serco.
We need your help to catch the culprits of fly-tipping, if you have any details, please email Enviro_Enforcement@sandwell.gov.uk.
