POLICE and councillors are planning tougher measures to tackle anti-social driving by ‘cruisers’ on roads near Lakeside shopping centre.
Dozens of drivers face prosecutions for a wide range of offences, including careless driving, not being in proper control and speeding, during recent weekend police operations at West Thurrock Way where hundreds of spectators gathered to watch illegal street racing.
Two motorcyclists have suffered serious injuries after falling from their machines while carrying out ‘stunts’ in front of spectators.
And in a recent development, a number of patrolling police cars have been hit by stones and ball-bearings thrown by spectators. One police car parked near the scene had a tyre let down.
Now local officers and Thurrock Council are in discussions to make the area the subject of a Public Spaces Protection Order under which on-the-spot fines can be imposed for any offences being carried out.
Insp Lee Argent said: "Police operations are carried out in the area every weekend but large numbers of car enthusiasts and spectators have gathered in the past month.
"In recent weeks we have experienced some hostility to officers and seriously injury to two motorcycle riders. Our main concern now is that there will be a fatality before too long unless we take tougher action to stop the illegal street racing.
"The Public Spaces Protection Order will allow us to impose on-the-spot £100 fines for offences such as doing wheel-spins, donuts, street racing, excessive noise and any other offences related to car cruises.
"We have issued dispersal orders on the area in the past but the PSPO will give us greater flexibility to deal with offenders.”
Officers from Grays met council officials on Monday June 1 to discuss plans for the PSPO. Further talks will be held and it is hoped the order can be in place soon.
In a police operation by officers from the Essex Police Casualty Reduction Unit on Saturday/Sunday May 30-31, four drivers were stopped for careless driving, two for speeding, three for using mobile phones while driving and two for not wearing seat belts. One car was seized after the driver was found to be uninsured.
Two drivers were issued warnings about their driving behaviour and told their cars would be seized if they offend again.
One driver was arrested for failing a drink/drugs test. Thirteen vehicles were seen speeding and will receive prosecution notices in the post.
Another driver who was seen doing wheel-spins was found to have been involved in a speeding offence the previous weekend. He now faces further prosecution for careless driving.
