ban of cruisers and boy racers in notts............

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moondust
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ban of cruisers and boy racers in notts............

Post by moondust »

‘Boy racers’ have been banned from Nottinghamshire in what is believed to be the first countywide injunction of its kind in the country.

Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottinghamshire Police have worked in partnership to obtain an injunction that prevents ‘five or more motor vehicles from congregating together, driving in convoy or racing each other on the highway who by their conduct make excessive noise, cause danger to road users or risk injury or risk damage to property’.

The Order was made by the Nottingham County Court today. It will remain in place for 24 months, and may then be reviewed by the County Court.

The County Council and police decided to take action after hundreds of complaints from residents who have suffered the noise and anti social behaviour from ‘boy racers’ or ‘cruisers’ in a number of areas of Nottinghamshire.

In recent months, the A611 between junction 27 of the M1 and Hucknall has been a particular magnet for young people racing cars on a Sunday evening. Up to 500 other cars have also been filmed by police congregating on grass verges and central reservations in the area to watch the racing.

Residents in Mansfield have also put up with the problem from Thursday to Sunday evenings for many years with cars racing around the Mansfield ‘circuit’ along Quaker Way, St Johns Street, Clumber Street, Toothill Lane, Midworth Street, Albert Street and back onto Quaker Way. A number of measures have been taken to try and target the problem here, including changing the road layout and issuing dispersal orders, but these haven’t tackled the issue permanently.

A countywide injunction will give the police powers to serve the Order on anyone who is in breach of the terms of the Order anywhere in the county, with a maximum penalty of two years in prison and/or a fine. In the case of persistent offenders, the judge hearing the case may consider attaching a power of arrest to the Order.

A similar injunction was introduced in Nottingham City in October last year, which has dramatically reduced the problem. This latest injunction is believed to be the first in the UK that covers an entire county.

Councillor Glynn Gilfoyle, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Partnerships, said: “Many people involved in the cruising scene are decent people, but their activities can create noise, nuisance and fear for our local residents. As well as the anti social behaviour impacts, racing around Nottinghamshire streets can also put the lives of the drivers and other road users in danger.

“We are delighted to be awarded this landmark injunction, which we believe will tackle the problem in the whole of Nottinghamshire, as it already has in the City area. We have worked very closely with the police and could not have achieved this without their valuable support.”

Inspector Sean Konsek from Nottinghamshire Police said: "To date Nottinghamshire Police have had to divert valuable resources into policing the gathering of 'boy racers' and cruisers. This has been in response, not only to massive complaints being made by members of the public, but also because a number of these 'boy racers’ have been involved in driving in a very dangerous and reckless manner.

“Nottinghamshire Police believe that this selfish and aggressive style of driving poses a very significant risk to other road users, as well as the racers themselves. We very much hope that this injunction will put a stop once and for all to this type of activity.”

Sergeant James Oliver from Nottinghamshire Police said: "I have been the Mansfield Town Centre sergeant now for two years and the main complaint I receive relates to ‘boy racers’. I don’t only get complaints from Mansfield residents, but also from visitors and businesses who are affected.

“Mansfield people have put up with the problem of noise, disruption and dangerous driving for long enough. They have been asking the police and their local authority to do something and now as a partnership we have.

“There is a small element of 'cruisers' who do actually just want to show off their cars to others, but this unfortunately has been ruined by the majority who have plagued our town with their poor driving standards and excessive noise. I hope this injunction will help us deliver our promise to those affected that we would tackle this problem.”

Many thanks,
Your Car enthusiast community spokesperson - CHRIS HALL
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