Police ready with dispersal order to halt illegal car cruising event in Northampton

Hundreds of hot-hatches heading for public roads and retail parks in the town
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Police are ready to involke a dispersal order to halt an illegal cruising event planned for Northampton this weekend.

Traffic cops say the are aware of a possible event due to happen on public roads and retail parks potentially involving hundreds of pimped-up cars from across the Midlands and East Anglia.

A similar event last month saw more than 160 drivers fined on roads near Daventry's International Rail Freight Terminal.

Police ticketed more than 160 vehicles and drivers at an illegal street racing meet near Daventry last monthPolice ticketed more than 160 vehicles and drivers at an illegal street racing meet near Daventry last month
Police ticketed more than 160 vehicles and drivers at an illegal street racing meet near Daventry last month

Police have powers to move people on and prevent such gatherings going ahead under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to move people on and prevent the event going ahead.

Officers can also use Section 50 of the Police Reform Act 2002 to compel anyone acting in an anti-social manner to provide their name and address.

PC Dave Lee, from the Force’s Safer Roads Team, said: “Unauthorised events on public roads aren’t just illegal, they can be unsafe and put participants and spectators at significant risk of collisions and injury.

“However, even with static displays, meetings at the current time with large gatherings are not permitted due to government regulations to control the ongoing public health emergency.

“We can’t allow this sort of gathering. If an event does take shape here, our Safer Roads Team and local neighbourhood officers will be taking firm action to move anyone attending on.

“If anyone is caught driving unlawfully, they will be prosecuted, and participants could be issued with fixed penalty notices for gathering under Covid regulations.”

Anyone with information about such events of this nature can call Northamptonshire Police on 101, or 999 if there is an immediate threat to life or an emergency.