Crackdown on 'cruising' drivers

Young drivers are arranging meetings on the internet

Police are targeting young drivers who use the internet to arrange big gatherings in areas such as car parks before going "cruising".

Gwent officers carried out an operation in Caerphilly county and Blaenau Gwent following complaints from residents.

Young drivers from south Wales and the West Country meet, with some committing public order and traffic offences.

On three days last month, 28 incidents of anti-social driving were reported in Blackwood, Pontllanfraith and Argoed.

Gwent Police said there was a particular problem in Blackwood town centre on Thursday evenings.

Meeting points include the McDonald's car park, supermarket car parks and small industrial estates.

Police say while most vehicles and drivers were within the law, a small minority "drive to the audience and are committing numerous traffic offences as well as public order offences".

They toot their horns and they've got these radios playing loud music Councillor Keith Smallman

They are said to create an intimidating environment and prevent residents from getting to local amenities.

Keith Smallman, a county councillor for Blackwood, said young drivers had been gathering and causing a nuisance for a number of years.

"They are coming in from all over the place and apparently have their own website where they advertise to come cruising in the high street," he said.

"They toot their horns and they've got these radios playing loud music.

"They congregate in a lot of the car parks and they have a drink and make a nuisance of themselves.

"What we're trying to do as organisations working together is trying to get some of the larger stores to put barriers up at night to stop them congregating."

The police operation involved both high-visibility and unmarked traffic patrol vehicles fitted with automatic number plate recognition to trace vehicles.

Police said the aim of the operation was to:

• Reduce the amount of anti-social behaviour relating to vehicles in Caerphilly county and Blaenau Gwent.

• Provide a high-visibility presence in and around the target areas between 1400 BST on Thursday and 0200 BST on Friday.

• Take "positive enforcement action" on offences.