Northumbria Police try variety of approaches to curb anti-social driving in Alnwick

Northumbria Police aim to keep on top of anti-social driving behaviour in and around Alnwick.
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Concerns have been raised by residents and business owners about issues such as parking up and playing loud music and littering.

They have also driven their cars to make the modified exhaust systems fitted to some of the cars involved backfire.

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Neighbourhood Sergeant Sharon Wilmore-Greaves, speaking at a meeting of Alnwick Town Council, said: "We did run an operation throughout August and September.

Northumbria Police aim to curb anti-social driving in Alnwick.Northumbria Police aim to curb anti-social driving in Alnwick.
Northumbria Police aim to curb anti-social driving in Alnwick.

"It was a three-pronged approach. The first part was to identify as many as we possibly could and warned them. We also checked over their vehicles.

"On other occasions we have stopped and tried to deal with any breaches of legislation.

"Unfortunately some of the exhausts are not illegal even though they might make a horrible noise.

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"There are two ways we can deal with it,” she explained. “One is to check their insurance because if they haven’t informed their insurance company that they have changed any aspect of their vehicle their insurance will not be valid. The neighbourhood team haven’t been involved in this but traffic have and they’ve had one breach.

"The other angle is anti-social behaviour such as driving fast, braking fast and then there’s that loud, pop-pop noise which most people term anti-social.

"The problem we have is catching them to do this. We have had lots of reports but the people reporting it aren’t wanting to provide statements so we have to personally witness it.

"The plan is to plot where they are doing it. Most of the reports are from Victoria Road so we’ll see if we can apprehend them that way.

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"I have a list of motorists who have been identified for anti-social behaviour and the last part is to go around to speak to them all, issue them with a letter and check their vehicles. If there is a breach there will be a more stringent notice.

"We have tried to engage, explain and encourage to try and make them aware of their impact on the community. Some have taken heed and some haven’t.”

"I do know that it’s a hot topic and it’s just something we have to keep on top of.”

Anti-social behaviour or speeding can be reported on https://beta.northumbria.police.uk/ or by calling 101.

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