Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has welcomed the roll out of tough new policing powers allowing officers to immediately seize vehicles driven anti-socially.
Under the new rules, officers no longer need to issue a warning before taking enforcement action against anti-social driving – changes the PCC insists will help police take a harder line against nuisance drivers who cause misery to local communities and put the lives of innocent people at risk.
The new legislation follows changes to Section 59 of the Road Traffic Act which came into force on 30 June. It allows police to seize cars, e-scooters, off-road bikes, motorcycles and other vehicles being driven carelessly, inconsiderately, at excessive speed or in a way that causes annoyance to other road users immediately rather than issuing a warning.
The PCC is Joint National Lead for Roads Policing on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) and has campaigned relentlessly for tighter legislation and advanced safety measures to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the UK’s roads, especially those involving young and inexperienced drivers.
Safer Roads is also a key priority in the PCC’s Police, Crime and Justice Plan, which includes a series of local and national commitments to improve driver behaviour and toughen sanctions against those who claim lives or seriously injure through recklessness.
The PCC has also been tackling the scourge of off-road bikes for several years in response to residents’ fears and concerns about vehicles being ridden at speed through housing estates, on public footpaths and through the countryside.
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “These new measures are necessary, and I welcome the Government’s decision to take this issue seriously.
“Anti-social driving is not a nuisance, it is a danger to life. Reckless drivers put themselves and others at risk because their attention is not on the road and they are not fully in control of their vehicles. It only takes a moment for that behaviour to end in tragedy.
“It also blights communities. Time and again, residents tell me about off-road bikes tearing through neighbourhoods, creating noise, damaging land and wildlife, intimidating local people and making families feel unsafe in places they should be able to enjoy freely.
“In Durham, we have taken a tough stance on the illegal and dangerous use of off-road bikes, backed by investment, technology and dedicated policing operations. These new powers strengthen that work by enabling officers to act immediately and stop dangerous behaviour before it causes serious harm.
“The message to offenders is clear: there are no warnings and no second chances. If you break the law and put the public at risk, expect swift and robust action.”
The PCC recently came together with partners at a multi-agency meeting involving police, councils and other agencies to share intelligence, problem-solve and identify further action to relentlessly pursue those responsible.
Durham Constabulary’s Operation Orb provides a strong basis for targeted enforcement, however partners are exploring how drones and other technology can help locate bikes and gather evidence, alongside the use of vehicle seizure powers.