Motorists face major crackdown on driving offences as police tackle unpaid fines and illegal activities
A major operation aimed at tackling anti-social parking and other vehicle problems in South Oxfordshire has resulted in several motorists being issued penalties.The operation, launched by Thames Valley Police alongside support from several agencies and local councils, focused on estates in Pettiwell, Garsington, and Littleworth, which have several car-related businesses.The need for enforcement follows calls from residents who have long complained about growing issues at the sites, with Littleworth often seeing many cars parked on the road or council land without a valid MOT or car tax. The police said this makes it harder for locals to park and walk safely and warned that vehicles stored on council land often park right up to the edge of the apron, which means residents have to step into the road to get past.The road behind nearby cottages is frequently blocked, and power tools are sometimes used at unsociable hours, disturbing people in their gardens. Garsington also has long-running parking problems. Vehicles spill onto public roads, some without car insurance or an MOT. But the police have been tackling this by issuing fines, although many remained unpaid. In 2025, unpaid fines in the area added up to about £33,000. During the operation last week, several agencies used their powers to enforce the law, with Thames Valley Police using a drone and finding people trying to hide. "Three were found hiding in the boots of cars, six adults in total were handed to Immigration officers," the police said.The police operation hoped to prevent anti-social driving behaviour | THAMES VALLEY POLICEPolice also arrested a 37-year-old man from Oxford. He was accused of keeping people in servitude after two individuals were found locked in a small room behind a garage. The man was subsequently released on bail and given a Community Protection Notice. One business has been closed, and a Proceeds of Crime Act application has been granted. Several vehicles were also stopped for having no MOT. Meanwhile, the DVSA checked MOT centres at the sites, with one failing due to it missing vehicle defects and was temporarily suspended. Another centre was marked unsatisfactory because of poor parking, and one car was prohibited from having the wrong number plates. The police recorded several parked cars without car insurance | PAThe DVLA, which also took part in the operation, clamped five untaxed vehicles, with four taken to Reading Pound, and found 30 untaxed vehicles using Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras, while seven cars with illegal number plates were also dealt with. Oxfordshire County Council tackled illegal parking on double yellow lines at Pettiwell, a problem which has been growing for years. Since taking over enforcement from the police in October 2023, the council said it has issued 150 fines and removed 10 vehicles. During this operation, nine fines were issued, and five cars were removed while the South Oxfordshire District Council checked businesses for proper waste disposal.The DVSA issued a temporary suspension to one MOT site | PAIn Littleworth, three companies were inspected, with scrap metal disposal being followed up on. In Pettiwell, one business is currently under investigation for tyre and scrap metal disposal, with three others also being looked at. Wheatley Parish Council also took part in the operation and helped by trying to establish a footpath from the bus stop, by the business park, to the rest of Littleworth.Thames Valley Police said: "This multi-agency approach makes the area safer and helps improve life for local residents." The operation showed how local authorities can work together to tackle illegal parking, unsafe vehicles, and nuisance behaviour at South Oxfordshire industrial estates. More enforcement visits are planned in the coming months.
