Police Target Anti-Social Drivers In Grampian

A crackdown on “boy racers” in Aberdeen has seen Grampian Police seize 50 vehicles over the past 12 months. A further 329 motorists received warnings from officers about the standards of their driving.

Nearly half of the vehicles were seized from the Beach Boulevard, which has become a hotspot for young drivers with modified cars.

Police were given the power to seize vehicles from careless drivers under anti-social behaviour legislation. The force has now launched a further month-long campaign warning about the consequences of erratic driving.

A billboard showing the consequences of anti-social driving will be in place at the Beach Boulevard for the next four weeks.

Leaflets will also be given to drivers who are stopped, while officers will be carrying out high profile operations at various locations around the city.

Insp George Macdonald, from the anti-social behaviour unit of Grampian Police’s Aberdeen Division, said: “The vast majority of drivers who have fallen foul of this legislation are aged 17-24 years. This mirrors the age profile for a high percentage of fatalities and seriously injured drivers and passengers on the regions roads.”

He warned drivers they faced penalty points, higher insurance premiums and having cars seized.

Insp Macdonald urged residents affected by anti-social drivers to pass information to the police and called on parents to take responsibility for their teenage children.

“Perhaps the next contact a parent will have with the police will be less pleasant and may relate to death or injury as a result of inappropriate driving,” he added.

In 2005 a dispersal area was placed around the Beach Boulevard for six months after complaints from locals about the so-called “Bouley Bashers” who gather in the area with high-powered cars.

Aberdeen City Council has also explored the possibility of closing the boulevard at night to all traffic except emergency vehicles and local residents.

Under the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004, officers can seize and remove motor vehicles which have been used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.

These powers apply where a person’s driving is considered to have been careless or if the vehicle has been driven off road.

Drivers and owners are required to have received a warning in the preceding 12 months before seizure can take place.