Crackdown is 'not a blitz on all youth'

Drivers cruising around the streets and car parks have caused months of misery for residents.

Gwent Police and Caerphilly council have introduced measures to tackle anti-social driving and the latest, which comes into force on Monday, will allow police to move on groups of two or more people.

It will operate for three months in the Blackwood ward area and council office car parks in Pontllanfraith and will enable police officers to disperse those causing, or likely to cause, intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress.

Superintendent Colin Jones said: "The decision to introduce this dispersal notice was not taken lightly. Those people who have been driving in an anti-social manner in the area have been causing distress to local residents."

He added that 71 notices were issued to drivers who caused distress or annoyance since July last year. Vehicles can be seized from anyone who receives two notices within 12 months and three were confiscated during that period.

Superintendent Jones said: "It is our priority to improve the quality of life for all residents living in our communities and addressing anti-social behaviour is an essential part of this."

Councillor Paul Ford described it as a specific measure to deal with the "unacceptable activities of car cruisers" but added that it was not intended to demonise all young people in the area.

Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge said: "I hope it works. At the end of the day, it's long overdue. I have been campaigning for two decades against the cruiser problems."

He added that he hoped the local police would have the resources to "blitz" the area. "We need to drive the boy racers out of the town."

Councillor Ford said the dispersal initiative was a targeted measure to deal with the "unacceptable actitivies of car cruisers".

"This is not intended to demonise all young people in the area. The effectiveness of the initiative will be measured."