Advice on stopping boy racers please - stevied
About two weeks ago, I reported a young lad driving like an imbecile near my house (overtaking on chevrons, coming into a right turn hatch, had someone decided to turn coming the other way, there would have been a fatal accident). They took the details (stupidly chavved up Peugeot, cherry bomb exhaust, etc) and thanked me.

Last night, same imbecile: 50mph approx through crowded supermarket car park. Reported again, mentioning that I had previously done so. "Do you have a crime reference number?" "No, I don't... I wasn't offered one". Takes details again, NO REFERENCE NUMBER OFFERED AGAIN, say they'll "look into it". Get home, realise I recorded reg. no. in phone, and that I may have transposed two letters. Ring back, explain "Do you have a crime reference number?"... explain, a little peeved now, that no I don't, because the muppets there haven't offered me one... give details of reg., ask if I DO have a reference number, confused "yeah but no but" answer, and a "yes we WILL look into it." 11pm walking home from local hostelry, same muppet drives past at about 70 in a 30. He has been driving around all night. They could easily have seen him, and stopped him. They have his reg. number, ergo they can find out where he lives.

What do I have to do to get a reaction from the local constabulary, who it has to be said, are dismal? Do I have to get killed by such a driver, or do I have to watch someone else get killed? Then, doubtless, there would be outcry in the papers and the police would say how sorry they were and that they have been offering driver training for young people etc. etc. to which I would say "Three times I reported someone who is an accident waiting to happen, and you lot did nothing".

I work in a customer-facing, performance-based role. If I transferred the apathy of the police to my job, then I wouldn't have one.

Before anyone says "Poor police have no resources, it's a a tough job.." insert cliché, then don't bother. That is NOT my question. The question is: how do I get something DONE? Do I write a letter to the Chief Constable, copying my local MP, Tony Blair, various papers and the motoring press? Or will I end up having resources wasted on me, keeping tabs on me as I will be classed as a "troublemaker"?

Any sensible advice?
Advice on stopping boy racers please - madf
to get a response say:
"he had his window open and was shouting racist remarks".

or
"he was leering at young children" .. on second thoughts after the Panorama program this week on Bail Hostels and sex offenders, the latter does not work in Bristol (a proven fact unless you add "I'm from Panorama")

or
"I think he was talking on a mobile phone "

all of which are probably considered more serious than killing someone by dangerous driving

References to guns make get a response but you're likely to be charged with wasting police time... in fact my experience of my neighbours reporting yobs doing criminal damage was exactly that!:-((
madf
Advice on stopping boy racers please - R75
Or "I saw him stacking a pile of old tyres against a speed camera, he then poured petrol over them and was about to light a match"
Advice on stopping boy racers please - barchettaman
How about investing in one of these?

www.spanset.co.uk/stinger/stinger.aspx

Every boot should have one. 5 year guarantee too.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - No FM2R
I would ring them again, repeat the story about how people in the car park were in dager, state that you are going to inform all the local press, state that at least then if the kid kills someone after all this that you can trust the press to raise the issue of nothing being done. I would also state that you will be putting the whole sorry story in writing to the press with a copy to the Chief Constable or whoever.

And get a reference.

Advice on stopping boy racers please - Hamsafar
You have to say he was doing it due to your actual or perceived sexuality. That is one of only three ways you can get any action these days. Hate/thought crime.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - madf
If they think you are molesting HIM, you won't end up with 1 pc but half a dozen.. (see Cherie Blair case..) so get him to report you for sexual harassment::-(
madf
Advice on stopping boy racers please - stevied
I think I will take NOFM2R (apols if order is wrong) approach, but in a non-emotive, very controlled letter (in other words, the exact opposite of what I would LIKE to write).

I genuinely don't understand WHY they don't think it's important. Surely they must see examples of such driving all the time, and surely be able to understand how irresponsible such people are?

Part of me is tempted to confront the little scrote myself, but then I'd end up in trouble.... they'd be quick enough to respond to a "nasty 34 year old man uses horrid words to poor defenceless boy" call out.

I am heartily sick of my local police, they're useless.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Armitage Shanks {p}
Report a crime on line and obtain a crime number at


www.met.police.uk/askthemet/internetcrimereporting...m




Advice on stopping boy racers please - malcolmg
The modern day Police are so dominated by performance targets, that serving the public has gone out of the equation. The last five years frightens me, The way to deal with these idiots is so simple, stop them, check on any modifications, and let their insurers know, with a covering report as to what they were involved in. When their insurance is voided then seize the car. most boy racers have insurance, but dont tell their insurance company of the modifications. Complain to the Chief Constable, he will make sure your complaint is looked into. the more people who do this will make them think whats happening now is wrong. I think they have just started to wake up. Moral at our local Police division is rock bottom. I am not a serving Police Officer, but am a member of NARPO, also please do not blame the PCs, the majority are doing their best, but you must get the public on your side. Many years ago I was the only officer on duty at a market town on the border of worcs and shrops. A gang of drunks from a town in Herefs turned up in town. I won, but only with the help of the locals. they must be seen as part of the community and not against them.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Stuartli
Every current or former police officer I know amongst my friends (and some have been featured on national television whilst doing their work) retirement can't come too soon or is over the moon (as a footballer would say) that they are free at last.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Advice on stopping boy racers please - local yokel
Thames Valley responded well, eventually, in a similar circumstance. Youngster driving Mum's car was using my (non highway, multi-ownership) lane for skid training with another mate in his car. The little LYs bike up and down it, and dog walkers also use it. I reported him once, and nothing happened. Saw the lad doing the same again the following day, called again and an hour later was called by a local PC who'd been round to his house, and offered to take away his driving licence if he was reported again.

Write to the CC (and cc it to yr MP and local councillor) call the local rag, and make a fuss. They don't like being shown up in the press, IMHO.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Pica
All this is very worrying and can confirm a friend of mine who is an officer working in the Royal Parks and he says much the same and cannot wait for retirement.

I recently reported (with numberplate) a car speeding in excess of 70 mph or 80mph in a 30mph limit outside my home. The Police said they would speak to him but only yesterday I saw him doing the same speeds on the same bit of road.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - madf
" I genuinely don't understand WHY they don't think it's important."

It's simple. Who do the Chief Constables report to?

The Local Community?
The County Council?

The local Police Authority but

... at the end of the day it's the Home Secretary... and the present incumbent is so busy reversing everything that Blunkett did that that alone tells you a story.

Central control of police = police state...= priorities set by anyone BUT the people who pay...

Our local setup is designed that no after hours crime can be reported to a live person....
madf
Advice on stopping boy racers please - SteVee
Do you have a local beat officer - hopefully, (s)he's still a 'proper' police officer and not a CSO (though some of these are also good) If so, then talk to them directly.

If you can't contact your beat officer - or they're useless - then you really do have problems. Consider moving.

I really wouldn't embellish your story - you need to be seen as a reliable witness.

I can sympathise with Stuarti's police friends.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - stevied
Stevee, that's why I have addressed the local CAT team. I know from meeting them out and about that they are good, and work in conjunction with our beat officers (astonishingly we have two!!!).

Madf, I can only confirm that the problem of "9-5 crime" is endemic. Our local police station shuts at 5. A friend of mine once said, in a heated discussion with an off-duty, and fairly senior copper (who I am compelled to report was a pompous, stuffy, unintelligent, un-free thinking buffoon) "So, you're telling me that Cheshire criminals only commit crime during business hours?". Made me smile. Buffoon had no reply at all, I think he was scared by the concept of having to think for himself and not having an answer to read off a crib sheet....

I wouldn't dream of embellishing the story! No need to... if the story is ignored, I can say with conviction "this alone is not enough to warrant investigation".
Advice on stopping boy racers please - stevied
Good points. I am not anti-PCs at all, I am more than aware it's useless, ineffectual management that gets in the way.

I have sent a letter to my local CAT (Community Action Team), from which I will await a reply. If I do not receive one within 7 days, I will forward it to the Chief Constable, MP and all the others that have been mentioned. Thanks for your assistance with this everyone.

Steve
Advice on stopping boy racers please - jase1
Forget the police. Tennis ball wedged in the exhaust pipe.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - stevied
: ) Don't know where he lives mate... maybe I should follow him some time....
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Mr.Tee.43
Just happened to notice, written on the back of a local police car ,parked outside the local police station, the following message.

" Protecting The Community "


Advice on stopping boy racers please - Lud
: ) Don't know where he lives mate... maybe I should
follow him some time....


Perhaps if you follow him you won't be able to resist the temptation to blast past him in a completely unsuitable place and so humiliate him that he will drive impeccably from then on stevied.... However the potato-up-exhaust-pipe solution might work for a while if you find the jalopy parked and unattended... shove it well in with a stick.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Mr.Tee.43
Expanding foam squirted way up inside the exhaust out of view, will cause no end of head scratching, when it has set .
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Westpig
RIng back or write in, doesn't really matter....and say you would like to make a formal complaint (about the way your information has been mishandled i.e. what have they done about it? why haven't you been asked to make a statement? why were you not given any kind of reference no? (it wouldn't have been a crime no. it would probably need to be a computer generated control room ref no).

Don't allow yourself to be 'fobbed off', by whoever answers the phone if that's your course of action.

The complaint will be dealt with by an Inspector and he/she will have a number of options, the most minor of which is an 'Informal Resolution'. You can agree to that......but...... only when the information you have been previously given is properly actioned and you have proof that this is so (ref no.), so the complaint will remain outstanding until that is so. If the complaint is not properly actioned you will complain further via your MP (won't you).

There is no reason at all why the info you've given cannot be at least put onto a criminal intelligence database and/or passed to officers who concentrate on traffic work.

I suspect that due to the volume of calls and/or the unlikelihood of a busy control room dealing with everything they get that night, then your info may not have been actioned at all. Sadly it happens all the time. Too much work, not enough staff.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Martin Devon
When they park, as they do, where they like and shuffle off to the cash machine with their poxy little cars with their poxy big stereos thumping out loud just reach in and turn off the ignition. Take the keys and drop them in an adjacent drain. It is soooo funny. When they lose their comfort zone they become very unsettled. Then look at their emaciated faces under their silly caps. Emaciated if you look really closely, cos they eat only burgers and drink only coca cola and then suggest to them that a few vegetables, (no, not their mates), and a bit of fish may improve the spots and also their attitude.....Like the firework....you have lit the blue touchpaper...then retire......I don't care anymore and nor do my tax paying educated colleagues....Enough is enough.

vbr...MD
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Lud
However the potato-up-exhaust-pipe solution might work for a
while if you find the jalopy parked and unattended...


That was of course a joke stevied, as I'm sure you realised. It isn't gentlemanly to mess with other people's property in their absence, although I suppose the spud immobilizer is more practical joke than vandalism.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - aaflyer
Come on, do a Cameron and hug them for making your life hell! It'll make all the difference...

AA
Advice on stopping boy racers please - MichaelR
About two weeks ago, I reported a young lad driving like
an imbecile near my house (overtaking on chevrons, coming into a
right turn hatch, had someone decided to turn coming the other
way, there would have been a fatal accident). They took the
details (stupidly chavved up Peugeot, cherry bomb exhaust, etc) and thanked
me.


Is this actually illegal? I thought it was only illegal if you cross a solid white line in entering the chevron area. Provided the road ahead is clear, I don't think its anything worse than annoying.

Can anyone confirm?
Advice on stopping boy racers please - type's'
My understanding on entering chevrons is you can whether broken or solid - when they are solid you should just exercise more caution (I may be wrong though).

I reported a similar problem and stressed that the way these idiots were driving - it was going to jeopardise a life and as the streets were busy with people walking about there usual business someone is going to get killed.
Once you use language like this I think they feel compelled to act - just in case something does happen and then some smart alec joe public tells all that the police were called and no action taken etc - you know the story.
It worked for me.

It follows a similar logic to the man having his shed broken into - calls police and they tell him they are too busy.
He then calls again and says he has shot 2 men in his shed.
2 mins later helicopters and armed response pile up.
Police investigate and says I thought you shot someone.
Man replies - I thought you were busy.

I don't advocate not telling the truth but you have to try what you can to get them to act - they are probably form filling anyway and dangerous driving does cause deaths.
I actually feel sorry for the police - the majority are well intended men/women wanting to do good.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Westpig
you've got to remember that there is little evidential value in the information reported to police, so they won't want to be bothered trying to prosecute it........

because it will end up being one persons word against anothers..........can't even see the CPS running with it.

it wouldn't hurt to disseminate the info to patrolling officers though, if the offender is persistent........trouble is it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between a one off problem and a continuing one.... and with few resources the temptation is to ignore it
Advice on stopping boy racers please - madf
To be entirely fair, I phoned up Cheshire traffic police with an enquiry - during the day - and they were brilliant- checked on a car and accidents reported - all for me - on line and real time. Really very very good.


But traffic police control centres are one thing .. and local policing is another... I picked up a credit card in the street at 6.30am one winter morning last year and handed it in to the local police centre (where there was only a civilian on duty) .. and never heard a thing more so until this day I have no idea whether it was lost/stolen or whatever.. It tends to de-motivate you from helping... or rather it might (but does not)

Frankly if the police were a business, the Chief Constable would be fired.. last year.. imo...

madf
Advice on stopping boy racers please - PoloGirl
"I picked up a credit card in the street at 6.30am one winter morning last year and handed it in to the local police centre (where there was only a civilian on duty) .. and never heard a thing more so until this day I have no idea whether it was lost/stolen or whatever.. It tends to de-motivate you from helping... or rather it might (but does not)"

See, this is what I don't understand. On the one hand there are people complaining that the police don't help them out quickly enough, and on the other there are those who want to be kept up to date with things that have precious little to do with them. There aren't enough people to be on the phone updating all and sundry *and* patrolling.

Anyway, off the police bashing/defending and on to the original question (that's a gentle hint for you all by the way ;) ) ....

Stevied there are a few things you can do:

Canvas the views of the people who live around you and find out if nuisance drivers are a problem for them too. The more signatures you can get on your letter the better, and a crowd of unhappy people looks better in the paper than just one angry one. If the problem is in a supermarket carpark, as it often is, write to the manager of the store - they can put barriers in if their car park is being used by racers out of hours. They wont want to be seen as being involved in something that is potentially damaging to the community in which their customers live.

I think you're going the right way with the CAT. There should also be an anti-social behaviour co-ordinator at your local council (part of the community safety team or team with a similar name) who you could contact. PCSOs are actually very useful in situations like this if your local force has them as they can be directed to patrol in an area where there have been complaints, and aren't frequently pulled off to deal with policing issues like police officers can be. Also, your council might have community wardens you can contact. Despite the police bashing, certainly where I live, all these people I've mentioned are keen to help and work with communities.

Most importantly, keep a diary of events, reg numbers, descriptions of behaviour etc. It might seem vigilante and time consuming but it will help.

Good luck
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Mapmaker
SNIP 8<

Impolite reply removed - DD
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Mapmaker
>reply removed

Oh, sorry. Anyway, L'escargot has made exactly the point I made.

Advice on stopping boy racers please - L'escargot
>>I picked up a credit card in
the street at 6.30am one winter morning last year and handed
it in to the local police centre (where there was only
a civilian on duty) .. and never heard a thing more
so until this day I have no idea whether it was
lost/stolen or whatever.


The police probably reasoned (and quite rightly in my opinion) that nothing would be gained, either by them or by yourself, for them to let you know the outcome. In fact to have done so would have used up some of their resources to no good purpose. I remember that in my younger days if you found something and handed it in at a police station, you could go back after 3 months (if it hadn't been claimed by anyone) and they would give it to you. (Is this still the case?) Obviously this wouldn't apply to a credit card.
--
L\'escargot.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - sierraman
Yes it is.A friend found a nearly new bike in an alley one morning,no doubt left there by a tea leaf.Took it to the cop shop and 3 months later was the legal owner.The problem was ,when riding it around,was he likely to be leapt on by the previous owner and given a kicking for being a bike theif?This was resolved when the bike was stolen shortly after.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Martin Devon
It follows a similar logic to the man having his shed
broken into - calls police and they tell him they are
too busy.
He then calls again and says he has shot 2 men
in his shed.
2 mins later helicopters and armed response pile up.
Police investigate and says I thought you shot someone.
Man replies - I thought you were busy.

That actually happened in London last year I believe and the police attempted to prosecute the woman, but she got on one of the midday radio prog's and told all. She didn't get nicked, but they got red faces.

MD.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - stevied
Thanks for all your advice and help on this.

I'll keep you posted!

Cheers

stevied
Advice on stopping boy racers please - slowdown avenue
said it before ,police only want easy money, they dont seem to speed traps on estate roads, just main roads where its appropriate to exceed limit. they seem to want all estate to be made 20 limits with humps. and all other roads with cameras. best give up driving, or emigrate.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - smokie
Seen speed traps on estates round here - admittedly usually on school walking routes. I'm not sure the police have anything whatsoever to do with where speed humps are placed, or what speed limits are set where...
Advice on stopping boy racers please - slowdown avenue
council are resposible for 20 limits past schools ect., but police wont speed trap 20 limits, so they put in sleeping policemen, that reduce your speed to 10 mph.
Advice on stopping boy racers please - Micky
Phone your local police station and describe the problem. Ask the police to deal with the problem, back it up with a letter to the duty inspector. Video might be useful. Don't tell the police how to to their job.

If that fails, write to the duty inspector and ask him to use the Police Reform Act to seize the vehicle. Unfortunately, "boy racing" is endemic. When I was young, teenagers and no-longer-teenagers would never think of driving/riding around urban areas at speed and making lots of noise .......
Advice on stopping boy racers please - stevied
Hello all.

Thought I would give you an update. I got a call at work the other day from the police (always worrying... till you realise you asked them to call you!!) and they were very helpful and sympathetic. They had escalated it from the CAT that I sent the e-mail to, and said an officer would discuss it with me.

He called round a few times when I was at work, so I went into my local station yesterday and had a chat there. It was very reassuring that they were aware of the main protagonist that I complained about and had already ticketed him for his noisy exhaust (hooray!).... and they took a statement from me outlining the occasions I had seen him driving like an idiot. They were very keen to "nick" him, and were confident that if he continues to take the michael, he will have his car taken off him. I was a little concerned to learn that it only costs 150 quid to get it back, but then I realised that this lad is only about 12 and spent all his pocket money on his exhaust, so 150 quid will be a lot to him!

I learnt a lot: firstly, whilst it may feel as if the police don't do anything a lot of the time, they do (Steve eats humble pie here), and I was astonished to learn of the amount of people who have been ticketed for illegal/undeclared mods and also the amount of cars they do take off people. The only thing they struggle with, and I understand why, is proving anti-social behaviour; by the time it's reported (in the words of my new policeman friend) they've "done one". However, he did let slip that the day the lad was ticketed was Remembrance Sunday when it was very quiet, and they could hear him driving around town, and nicked him on those grounds... which both amused and reassured me.

Advice on stopping boy racers please - Roger Jones
Good to see this. Well done.

I was fairly confident that the idiot I reported recently would already be known to the police or, if not, soon would be from other reports. Every little helps.