an authorised cruise is sumthin like maxpower in weston where the police are informed of wots goin on etc etc! an unauthorised cruise is like we usually do lol find a car park get loads of cars and just go have fun :thumbs:

what is the difference between an unauthorised and an authorised cruise?

do they want you to get permission to park up large groups of vehicles for extended periods, or inform the fuzz before you cruise?

So this goes for all car entusiasts?

So when there is a big group of old cars belonging to a club come and park on the Catherdral Green in Wells thats fine, but we are not aloud to park in a public car park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I dont think its fair some how do you???!!!!!!

This was sent to me today by Lawrie Lewis (Superintendent
Avon and Somerset Constabulary) and he also registered and posted it in my forum :lol:

Just thought id let you South West lot know.:thumbs:

Avon & Somerset Constabulary statement regarding car enthusiasts activity in Weston-super-Mare and change in police tactics

In 2002 the Constabulary demonstrated its willingness to take robust action to counter the socially unacceptable behaviour of car enthusiasts. The action we took had a significant impact which was supported by the general public, the Crown Prosecution Service and finally the courts.

Over the winter months locals enthusiasts and others, visiting from further afield, have steadily increased in number and their collective behaviour has deteriorated to an extend where a public nuisance is being caused and public safety affected.

In response to our own and the public concerns we are now in the first stage of an operation whereby we will, if the assemblies and behaviour do not stop, repeat the robust enforcement operations of early 2002.

On Sunday 16th March 2003 extensive evidential digital photographs were taken of attendees. This may be repeated.

Witness statements will be taken from members of the public affected by the assemblies and behaviour. Police officers will also be submitting evidential statements.

The nuisance vehicle database initiated in 2001 and added to in 2002 will be brought back into operation and further expanded this year. You may receive notice that you are being added to that database.

We will, if appropriate, make arrests and seizure of property on as large or even larger scale than we did in 2002.

I remind you below of the advice we have consistently put out;

The situation in Avon and Somerset continues to be that we will not encourage, authorise or condone unauthorised cruises (or ‘boy racers’) and we will act in a positive and proactive fashion to prevent them. Action we have taken and will consider taking in the future include:
 Arresting those organising, encouraging others to, or actually taking part in ‘cruises' (or ‘boy racers’) for the offences of causing or conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. This is a serious offence that can bring with it a term of imprisonment.
 Seizing vehicles, mobile phones, computers used for posting messages and other evidence of involvement in such offences using powers such as those provided by the Police & Criminal Evidence Act.
 Upon conviction we may request the court exercise their power to make a forfeiture or destruction order in respect of any evidence we have seized and retained. That places vehicles and any other item we have seized and retained, at risk.

In addition we may make use of the new powers provided by the Police Reform Act (view at www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/20030--f.htm#59) where appropriate. Essentially the new powers have both extended the circumstances under which we can take legal action and the nature of that action.

To remind you of the events of the 31st March 2002 in Weston-super-Mare a total of 18 vehicles were seized and retained for up to a month as evidence pending the completion of our investigation. 24 people were arrested. At Magistrates Court fines of £350 were imposed. 14 elected trail at Crown Court and after several months on bail and employing barristers they were all bound over to keep the peace by the Court. (To correct mis-information generated by one magazine they did not ‘cut a deal’ they were offered that route to save a lengthy trial that may have resulted in far more extensive penalties being imposed). One person lost their job as a direct result of the investigation and another person was disciplined.

The nuisance vehicle database we commenced in 2001 now has some 700 vehicles listed and will be instrumental in demonstrating that the keeper of a vehicle has received a previous warning and could therefore be liable for arrest and / or seizure of their vehicle. In many circumstances you do not need to have been entered on the database before we are able to take legal action.

We have the plans in place but I sincerely hope we do not have to take similar action in 2003.


Lawrie Lewis
Superintendent
Avon and Somerset Constabulary