Boy racers could lose cars as police get tough (From Gazette & Herald)

Boy racers could lose cars as police get tough

POLICE are warning anti-social young people that they are about to get tough.

The Government has given police new powers to clamp down on so-called boy racers and officers in Ryedale are warning the culprits they will seize vehicles on the spot.

Ryedale police chief Inspector Neil Burnett has drafted a hard-hitting letter to be dealt out to known vehicle owners, warning them that officers in Ryedale are making the issue a top priority.

Anti-social behaviour, including excessive speed, engine revving, wheel spinning, unnecessary use of the horn and excessively loud stereo systems will all come under the spotlight under the new legislation, the Police Reform Act 2002.

Residents in Ryedale complain to police on an almost daily basis, said Insp Burnett, and the tough new powers will herald the start of a crackdown targeting known hotspots where groups congregate.

"This is really aimed at lower level anti-social driving which causes so much heartache to local residents," he said.

"It is an issue of real concern for a lot of people in the district and we think this is really quite a useful piece of legislation. We feel confident it will help us far more than anything before."

Insp Burnett said the open letter was designed to make younger drivers aware of the change in the law.

Under the new regime, vehicle owners will be given a warning if they are caught committing an offence of careless inconsiderate driving and causing a public nuisance.

If they are caught again within two years, the car will be seized on the spot.

Recovering a seized vehicle will cost a minimum of £105, rising £12 per day for every day the car remains locked up.

"This gives the police powers to deal with the nuisance of anti-social driving without having to go through the complex process of the courts," explained Insp Burnett.

"But we will still have the option of referring the matter to the courts."

Residents close to car parks in Wentworth Street, Malton, and Eastgate, Pickering, have been plagued by the drivers, who gather until 2am or 3am some nights.

One Malton woman, who asked not to be named, said weekends had become unbearable.

"Friday and Saturday nights are the worst, but they are down in Wentworth Street every night," she said.

"When it's been raining, they go berserk skidding, it wakes you up, and they play heavy music, it's dreadful."

Police are also clamping down on anti-social behaviour in Pickering after a surge of trouble from youths.

Community safety sergeant Cliff Edens said: "We are speaking to young people who are causing problems in terms of nuisance and damage, and we are making sure their parents know."

Officers are taking names and addresses of youths so that letters can be sent to their parents about the problems.

Over the weekend, damage was caused to at least half a dozen headstones in the churchard at St Peter's and St Paul's. The Rev Francis Hewitt said everyone had been upset at the damage caused to graves which date back to the 1920s and earlier.

Churchwarden Charles Taplin said: "I am very angry about it. I want the police to pull their finger out and do something about this. I am anxious that something should be done soon because, if it is left, the problems escalate."

Sgt Edens said police have increased patrols in the town and are prioritising the problem.

Updated: 13:21 Wednesday, May 14, 2003