Further Crackdown on Lakeside 'cruisers'

> Dear Residents
>
> Charlie and I are pleased to detail more action (below) taken by the Police and other stakeholders to ensure that the racing is stopped once and for all. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you posted:
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> Thurrock Council and Essex Police have taken action to stop the roads around the Lakeside shopping centre being used as a racetrack.
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> On Saturday (1 June) a dispersal order, allowing police to disperse groups of two or more people if there is evidence of anti-social behaviour or danger to the public, will come into force.
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> In May last year Essex Police became aware of a "racetrack route" dubbed by cruisers as the Lakeside GP - circling the whole area of Lakeside from the Arena Essex / Moto Services roundabout, around the shopping centre and back up to the A13.
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> A dispersal order was successfully sought last year and, as they only last for six months, the council and police are following it up again.
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> Internet-based clips have been posted by spectators as recently as 4 May this year, showing large numbers of people standing along the route and in the road
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> Filming the racing vehicles would have posed a significant threat of injury to pedestrians/onlookers and in March - while police were deployed in the area - they saw a near-miss where a racing car lost control and veered into the crowd of spectators. Luckily nobody was hurt and the driver was dealt with for driving offences.
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> Insp Leigh Norris of the West Thurrock Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "This incident highlights the significant risk to spectators as well as the drivers. There have also been reports of cars being driven on the wrong side of the road, swerving around members of the public as well as the noise pollution from exhausts and car stereos which upset local residents."
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> Since the beginning of March 2013 this year, police have issued many fixed penalty notices for speeding, obstruction, having no insurance and/or no seatbelt, plus one arrest for being drunk and disorderly.
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> Regards
>
> Cllr Tunde Ojetola
> Shadow Cabinet Member for Central Services
> South Chafford Ward
> Thurrock Council
> www.cllrtunde.blogspot.com
> 07795644355 (evenings)
> Twitter: @cllrtunde