Police confront 'anti-social behaviour on four wheels'

Officers from Wakefield Central Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) have targeted drivers who cause disruption.

One vehicle was seized from a man who lives in Goole and another five vehicles were issued with warnings.

Fixed penalty notices were given to people not wearing seatbelts and a man was arrested for breaching an anti-social behaviour order.

Residents raised the problem of anti-social use of vehicles at the first Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting at St James' Church, Thornes, which was attended by more than 140 people.

Police say issues within Thornes Park are being addressed and there is a plan for parking restrictions to be put in place, preventing vehicles from parking up to socialise.

Inspector Richard Close, of Wakefield Central NPT, said: "As long as the community identify this to be a problem my team will continue to target this form of anti social behaviour.

"Drivers who may think they are competent and capable of driving at speed often haven't got the first clue about vehicle control and stability.

"We are working with our partners to disrupt this pastime of racing around the car parks and open spaces. We will work with our partners to close barriers, install speed bumps and take enforcement action against illegal acts. The minimum to be expected is the seizure of the driver's vehicle."

The inspector warned that police will even look towards noise pollution legislation in the case of excessive noise from heavily adapted exhausts.

The NPT is working with Wakefield Council's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit to tackle the problem of nuisance drivers.

Councillor Olivia Rowley, the council's cabinet member for community safety and cohesion, said: "The community has identified this as a problem and the council and police have again teamed-up to tackle an issue that's affecting local people.

"It's easy to forget just how dangerous a car is in the wrong hands – not only to the driver and passengers but to everyone else. Anti-social behaviour comes in many forms, even on four wheels."