PCSO Rhyan Toms

BOY racers who rev and roar round Dorchester car parks will have their cars seized by police.

PCSO Rhyan Toms said tougher police action is aimed at drivers who meet up late at night and cause disruption and noise with their cars.

She said the Top o' Town car park had become the latest problem area after a crackdown at the market site put a stop to the nuisance there.

She said: "We have started having complaints about young drivers revving their engines, doing handbrake turns and making a lot of noise at night.

"Residents get fed up with it - this is going on while they're trying to sleep.

"It's the sort of problem that gets worse as the weather gets better because people want to have their windows open."

She added: "It could be that the drivers don't realise the effect they have on other people by causing annoyance and distress.

"We will always try to give them a warning and to educate them about driving first.

"But if we have to, we will issue a Section 59 order and if need be we will seize the vehicle.

"It could be that they are young named drivers on their parents' insurance and the car isn't actually theirs - I'm sure the mum won't be happy to find out her car has been seized."

PCSO Toms said the Section 59 also covered motorbikes and mopeds, which could be seized.

She said the problem at Top o' Town had got worse recently following the end of a six-month Section 30 order that made it easier for police to disperse groups of people. That order may be renewed after evidence is gathered to study its effectiveness.

She said a similar problem at the market car park was highlighted last year at a Pact - Partners and Communities Together - meeting when residents complained about boy racers. They listed noise from revving engines, car stereo players and loud voices among the late night nuisance caused.

PCSO Toms said: "It seemed these young drivers liked practising handbrake turns round the pillars of the outdoor market building. As a result of the meeting the council put gates on which are locked at night and that more or less stopped the problem."

She said groups of around 10 vehicles gathered on occasions, adding to the noise levels. She said: "I spoke to one young lad about it last week and found he had only just passed his test. We didn't seize the vehicle on that occasion but we can do it and will if somebody continues to be a nuisance."

Police powers to seize and impound cars

SECTION 59 Police Reform Act 2002 notices can be issued if a person rides or drives in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.

They remain in force for one year and give police the power to seize the vehicle. The driver is then liable to a charge for recovery of the vehicle plus a rising charge for each day that the vehicle is impounded.

Information taken for the Section 59 form is held on local police databases and the Dorset Road Crime Intelligence Unit and will be cited in any future court proceedings.

11:14am Thursday 27th March 2008

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