Police armed with drones carry out speeding crackdown
One driver was caught doing 86mph in a 40 zone
Policing teams have carried out a pre-planned operation to target vehicle-related anti-social behaviour in the Fareham & Winchester districts.
Fareham West NPT and Winchester NPT continue to receive a large amount of complaints regarding excess speed and anti-social behaviour associated with vehicle meets, which is having a detrimental impact on the quality of life of local residents.
On the evenings of Friday 9 and Saturday 10 February, the teams joined forces with officers from the Roads Policing Unit, Safer Roads Unit and police Drone operators to crack down on this type of behaviour.
Police activity was focused on the Whiteley, Segensworth, Titchfield, Warsash and Park Gate areas, resulting in the following:
• 66 vehicles caught for excess speed on Southampton Road, Titchfield - the highest recorded speed of the night was a motorist driving at 86mph in a 40mph zone. Sanctions for these drivers are being processed.
• 1 vehicle seized for having no insurance.
• 1 driver arrested and charged with drink driving in the early hours of Saturday morning.*
• A number of drivers issued tickets for various traffic offences.
• 3 Section 59 Police Reform Act warnings issued for vehicles being driven in an anti-social manner.
Where vehicles are suspected of being driven in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance to the community, or are being driven in an inconsiderate or careless manner, Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 gives police powers to order the person driving the vehicle to stop, and in some circumstances seize the vehicle.
As well as the enforcement work conducted over the course of the weekend, officers also engaged with a number of drivers and offered advice/education around speeding and the manner of their driving.
Inspector Rob Kearley said: “The majority of car enthusiasts want to meet because they are passionate about their hobby, however the community has raised concerns to us repeatedly about a minority of motorists involved in anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving.
“We have identified hotspot locations for this type of activity and will continue to take proactive action to reduce any risk to other motorists and members of the public, and to reduce disruption to local people.
“As we have said before, and will continue to say, we are determined to deliver exceptional local policing for you, by relentlessly pursuing criminals and putting you - our victims - first.
“We again appeal to you to keep reporting information to us, and thank the local community for their assistance as we deal with these matters.”
To report crime or anti-social behaviour to the police, call us on 101, or make a report online at www.hampshire.police.uk
Call 999 in the event of an emergency or if a crime is in progress.