Community and Police unite to take action against anti-social motorists

Release Date: September 2009

Officers from Paignton and Brixham recentlytargeted anti social driving in the area as a response to concerns raised by the community in local ‘You Said, We Did’ meetings.

Organised by Safer Communities Torbay, the aim of the meetings is for members of the community to take a stand against anti-social behaviour and report issues and concerns that are affecting their neighbourhood. Attended by members of Torbay’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team and local policing teams, the aim is to share and highlight issues and work together putting measures into place to deal with the problems.

At several meetings in the Brixham and Paignton areas concerns were raised about driving-related behaviours. In response and with the view to deter anti-social motorists, the police actioned a targeted traffic operation in the area.

The four hour-long operation, which covered main commuter routes from Brixham and Paignton and included the town centres, saw a number of drivers receive fines for contravening various sections of the Road Traffic Act.

Several Fixed Penalty Tickets were issued for a variety of offences which included obscured number plates, driving in pedestrian areas, excess exhaust noise and speeding.  Vehicle Defect Tickets were also issued as part of the operation for infringements such as illegally - tinted windows, unsuitable tyres and broken lights.

An arrest was also made for drink driving and another person was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Sergeant Gaynor Bell from Paignton’s Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "We responded to concerns fromour local community that ‘Street Racers’ were causing a nuisance in the area and took positive action to deal and educate those concerned.We will continue to deal with anti-social driving and encourage members of the public to report incidents to us so that we can target our patrols in the right areas".

Louisa Aiton Cabinet Member for Community Safety said, “Listening to the views of our communities and acting on their concerns is extremely important to us. We want to build neighbourhoods that are safe and free of anti- social behaviour, for all to enjoy. It is the small majority of people that ruin the lives of others and it is pleasing to see that such positive action has taken place.”

The aim of the operation was to reiterate the police presence in the area and act as a deterrent to potential anti-social motorists.

To report any anti-social behaviour in your area please call 01803 207900.  Alternatively, you can contact your neighbourhood policing team via Devon and Cornwall Police’s website Devon & Cornwall Police  or by calling 08452 777444.