Anti social driving targeted in Blackwood (From Campaign Series)

Anti social driving targeted in Blackwood

10:32am Monday 21st July 2008

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AN OPERATION by officers from Gwent Police Roads Policing Unit (RPU) to diffuse the issue of anti-social driving in Blackwood was classed as success.

These areas have been suffering from youth and vehicle annoyance, particularly in Blackwood town centre and surrounding car parks on Thursday evenings. The primary complaints are due to the large numbers of vehicles gathering and the anti-social actions of the drivers. The manner of driving of some vehicles has been reported as being careless, inconsiderate and, at times, dangerous. In excess of 28 calls were made to Gwent Police over Thursday evenings in June alone.

The youths involved communicate via the internet on social network sites, such as Facebook and Bebo, and arrange gatherings, attracting vehicles from all over South Wales and Avon and Somerset.

There are a number of meeting places including the car parks of MacDonald’s, supermarkets and small industrial estates. The volume of vehicles prevents local residents from accessing local amenities and creates an intimidating environment for the towns.

Although the majority of the vehicles and drivers are lawful, a small minority drive to the audience and are committing numerous traffic offences as well as public order offences.

The purpose of the operation was not to stop vehicles travelling to Blackwood, nor to move them on, but to disperse them and deter them from driving in such a manner as to cause distress to local residents.

Sgt Martin Wilce of Gwent Police Roads Policing Unit said: "The operation was a success with almost 50 non-endorsable fixed penalty notices being issued for minor driving offences including using fog lights and not wearing a seatbelt. More serious offences included a public order offence; obstruct police and possession of cannabis. Other offences included driving without insurance or driving licence, driving whilst using a mobile phone and parking on zig-zag lines.

"We will be monitoring the problem closely with our neighbourhood policing colleagues in the area and our intelligence systems to ensure the minority of drivers who do commit offences are dealt with and local residents are able to go about their business in peace."

RPU officers utilised both high visibility marked traffic patrol vehicles and unmarked traffic patrol vehicles. Vehicles were fitted with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and safety camera vans were also part of the operation. Further similar operations are planned.

Operation Results Three arrests - public order offence; obstruct police and possession of cannabis. The first two received fixed penalty notices and the latter a caution Seven endorsable fixed penalty notices for offences including no insurance, parking on zig-zag lines, using mobile phone whilst driving 47 non-endorsable fixed penalty notices including using fog lights and not wearing seatbelt.

Four Section 165 notices for driving without insurance or a driving licence Seven Section 59 notices for careless and inconsiderate driving with two vehicle seizures for a second offence within 12 months 14 speeding offences with the maximum speed being 57mph in a 30mph zone on the A4048 in Argoed.

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