Ring of steel stops boy racers (From Daily Echo)

Ring of steel stops boy racers

10:57am Tuesday 10th June 2008

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POLICE swooped to put a halt to car cruisers staging a major event in a Hampshire village.

Acting on intelligence that boy and girl racers from across the south were planning to descend on Hedge End, officers set up a "ring of steel" to stop the meeting going ahead.

In recent years the streets around Hedge End Retail Park have become a favourite for petrolheads to push their souped-up motors to the limit.

Regular meetings of speeding motorists have led to fears that it is only a matter of time before a serious accident leaves someone dead or badly injured.

When police swooped on the retail park at 9pm on Sunday they found about 150 people in their cars or lining the dangerous routes where racers were preparing to test themselves and their vehicles against each other.

Officers tested drivers for drink and drugs, and identified several vehicles they wanted to check for faults and excessive noise emissions.

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Watch the type of car cruise the police stopped

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Police issued two £60 fixed penalties for using cars in a dangerous condition - which could also attract points on driving licences - and another seven £30 non-endorsable fines for causing unnecessary noise. One driver was told that they could not move their car until two defective tyres had been changed, and another was told they must change a wheel arch which was too close to the wheel.

Sgt Dave Tongs said that the operation had been very successful, dispersing most of the crowds within an hour, and that intelligence gathered on individuals and vehicles will help in further action to stop car cruising.

"We have experienced problems with cruisers' at the retail park in the past and take robust action each time," he said.

"The operation went really well and will be carried out again should we receive information that another meeting is planned in Hedge End."

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