'Blinged-up' police tackle noise

Police say it is the force area's 'awesomest set of wheels'

A customised police van is being used by North Wales Police to tackle boy racers and noisy car music systems.

A former speed camera van has been "blinged up" in the style of the Pimp My Ride TV show, complete with a souped-up stereo and a fly paint job.

The van, which was given its new look with the help of local suppliers, is being taken to schools and colleges.

Police said the van was among initiatives designed to deal with the potential danger of "cruising" events.

Unveiling the van on his blog, the force's deputy chief constable Clive Wolfendale said too many young people treated their cars as a fashion accessories.

"There are a number of adverse consequences to this behaviour in north Wales, including a significant rise in road deaths amongst 17-25 year old male drivers during the first half of this decade," he wrote.

Activities range from envious glance-casting to illegal full-on races around marked up tracks Clive Wolfendale on cruising events

"As the result of a spate of tragic fatalities we put an enormous amount of effort into enforcement and educational schemes with the result that deaths in this category reduced during 2007."

Describing the police van as the "region's awesomest set of wheels", Mr Wolfendale said it would be packed full of information and advice for young drivers and was already drawing crowds on its appearances in the region.

Local garages helped police convert the vehicle.

It is equipped with a flashy music system, flat-screen TV and it even has its own video on YouTube.

He said the cruising events police are trying to tackle feature large numbers of boy racers assembled on retail or industrial parks who then compare their cars.

"Activities range from envious glance-casting to illegal full-on races around marked up tracks," wrote Mr Wolfendale.

"Catering vans have been known to turn up at some meetings."

Mr Wolfendale added that he was "frequently irritated by the 'boom boom boom' of drum 'n' bass pumping out of the back of small hatchback cars".