Police clamp down on Lakeside "boy racers"

POLICE are clamping down on "boy racers" speeding near Lakeside Shopping Centre late at night.

The boy racers, who are using the A126 to "cruise" are causing sleepless nights for Chafford Hundred homeowners.

One homeowner, who asked to not be named, said: "It's blighting every Saturday night.

"The noise is horrendous and it's not just one car it's lots of cars.

"It makes you feel so helpless."

The man said the boy racers have been operating in the area since Christmas and he is regularly kept awake by the noise on a Saturday night.

The latest incident happened on a week night last Tuesday when he was kept awake until 4am.

An operation was mounted at Lakeside and Paycocke Road, Basildon, which is another hotspot for "cruisers", on February 23.

During the operation a number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued.

Inspector Nick Morris from Thurrock Police said: "It was brought to our attention at Christmas.

"The problem is they are quite well organised through their website.

"We had marked cars down and they disappear but return when they have gone."

Essex Police is currently carrying out work to put in place a permanent and long term solution to the problem.

In the meantime a number of operations are planned to enforce Road Traffic Regulations on the A126 at weekends.

Inspector Morris added: "We will not tolerate people coming to Thurrock in order to drive in a dangerous and anti-social manner and we will continue to target these people, as well as those that come to watch.

"We have visited other police forces from across the country who have successfully put in place measures to eradicate "cruising".

"Work is now taking place to replicate these plans across Thurrock."

Among the offences fixed penalty notices (FPNs) were issued for on February 23 were: Windows being too heavily tinted, number plates not being displayed properly, obstruction of the highway, speeding, no MOT, misuse of lamps, no seat belts, using mobile phones.

(From Thurrock Gazette)