Bridport Police and partner agencies are continuing to target the problem of vehicles being driven in an anti-social manner at West Bay and are asking the public to continue to report incidents of this nature.
So far this year, 12 Section 59 notices have been issued to drivers of vehicles in West Bay. Under Section 59, if a driver is found to be driving in a manner that causes or is likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public they will be issued with a warning. Should the driver repeat the offence within 12 months, the vehicle will be seized and removed. Two such vehicles have been seized this year. A number of fixed penalty notices for speeding have also been issued.
Officers have been carrying out high-visibility and plain car patrols as well as foot patrols, including regular patrols from response officers, Safer Neighbourhood Teams and traffic officers from the Road Traffic Unit.
Police have also been working closely with partner agencies, such as West Dorset District Council and Bridport Town Council, to reduce the problem. This has led to the closure of the West Bay Road car park at night between 10pm and 6am daily.
Mock Collisions
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service have also been involved in educating young drivers by hosting a demonstration which allows them to see the effects of road traffic collisions and the potential consequences.
These sessions have been well attended by many of the young people who spend time in their vehicles at West Bay. So far, events which include mock road traffic collisions, have also been held in Shaftesbury, Gillingham, Swanage and Lyme Regis with further locations set to follow.
Plain Clothes Presence
Bridport Safer Neighbourhood Sergeant Jon Bleasdale said: “It is important to acknowledge that it is only a minority, albeit a significant minority, of young drivers who behave in this way. Our plain clothes patrols, which involve officers maintaining a presence in West Bay for several hours during the relevant times on a number of evenings, see many young people driving sensibly and parking in groups to converse with each other without causing upset.
“Those that do behave anti-socially, whether by driving irresponsibly, playing loud music, sounding horns late at night or revving their engines, display a disgraceful lack of understanding of the adverse way in which it affects the community.
“It can destroy the quality of life for residents in the immediate locality which is utterly unacceptable. Many of the young drivers we speak to are ordinarily decent young men and women but behind the wheel, they develop a tendency towards idiotic behaviour.
“We would appeal to them, and for that matter their parents in many cases, to consider the affect their behaviour is having on others and how they would feel if the situation were reversed.
Bubble Up Boy Racers
“In the meantime, we would appeal to any victims or witnesses to this behaviour to record a description of the vehicle, registration numbers, any information on the description of the driver even if it is only to state whether male or female, and some detail of the behaviour displayed.”
Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 01202 or 01305 22 22 22 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.
