Boy racers back in Southend town

“Thurrock police did the same thing. They also had a very strong campaign, and the cars moved back down here.” Chief Insp John Walker, Southend police
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CRUISERS have come back to Southend causing problems for neighbours by roaring around town in the early hours.

Police officers have identified drivers who have come from as far as Cornwall and Nottingham to show off their souped-up vehicles.

The problem has become particularly bad around Farringdon multi-storey car park, in Elmer Approach, Southend.

Jonathan Garston, councillor for Milton ward, highlighted the problem at a public meeting held by the Essex Police Authority.

He said: “There’s a number of hot spots in the Southend area, particularly Farringdon car park. Vehicles are going in there until a very late hour causing a real disturbance to the neighbours.”

Chief Insp John Walker, of Southend police, said: “It’s very cyclical. We dealt with this about 18 months ago. We forced them out of Southend, so they went to other areas like Pitsea, Basildon, and Thurrock.

“Thurrock police did the same thing. They also had a very strong campaign, and the cars moved back down here.”

Chief Insp Walker said the police had been cracking down on cruisers, but often there were few reasons to stop them.

However, PC Ian Harlow, of the seafront policing team, has warned cruisers they are able to give them section 59 orders if they are seen driving erratically.

The order is put on both the driver and the vehicle.

He explained: “If the vehicle is seen being driven in a bad manner, or if the driver is seen driving badly again, we can actually seize the vehicle.”

(From Echo News )