Clampdown On Boy Racers In Buckie And Keith

A campaign to clampdown on boy racers has been launched in Buckie and Keith.

'Fair Warning' which is part of Operation Cedar, (Challenge, Educate, Detect and Reduce) aims to work in partnership with the local community to stop anti-social driving.

Police Scotland is asking residents of the communities to phone 101 with a note of the make, model, colour and registration of any vehicles causing issues in their area.

When residents telephone Police, they should advise that the call is about anti-social driving in Keith or Buckie.

Local Policing Inspector Alan Armit explained how the scheme will then work: "We've been receiving complaints from residents about drivers continually doing 'circuits' or speeding in Buckie and Keith town centres and, with some cars having modified exhausts, the noise involved can cause great distress to local residents.

"We're aware that drivers often moderate their driving when they see a marked Police vehicle but will revert to anti-social driving once Police have moved on.

"Following residents phoning in with details of anti-social driving, a letter will be sent to the owner of the vehicle advising them that a report of anti-social driving has been received. The letter will also detail the consequences of such driving and inform them that they risk being reported to the Procurator Fiscal and potentially having their car seized.

"When officers next stop a vehicle for excessive noise or similar, they can check the 'Fair Warning' spreadsheet. If the vehicle they have stopped appears on the spreadsheet, the driver will be cautioned and charged as they have been given 'fair warning' that this will happen.

"The overall aim of the campaign is to improve the quality of life for locals and to highlight the impact of anti-social driving to drivers. We plan to have some unmarked cars on patrol and I'm sure our local communities in Keith and Buckie will get behind the 'Fair Warning' campaign to help us tackle this issue."