Warning boy racers could cause 'serious harm'

A banning order on boy-racers in Norwich is due to be extended with a council report warning they could cause "serious harm".

The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), first introduced three years ago, gives police more powers to deal with problems at gatherings – often called "car-meets".

The Green-run city council is expected to renew the PSPO for another three years.

A report for the authority's cabinet said that while no-one had been badly hurt at a car-meet in the city, someone could be if they were allowed to continue.

The PSPO gives police additional powers to issue fines of £100 to those breaching the order, which can rise to £1,000 if no payment is made.

The report from council officers warned that problems have included "noisy modified exhausts", "excessive speeding" and "stunts including dangerous acceleration".

It also showed that in the space of a year, Norfolk Police received 95 calls in Norwich about vehicle-related anti-social behaviour.

More than half of those were in the Britannia Road area, near HMP Norwich and Mousehold Heath.

Resident Stephen Robinson said it was "quite intimidating".

"It's hugely disruptive to living here, whether that's sleeping, trying to get your kids to sleep, having a conversation, anything," he explained.

While he welcomed plans to extend the PSPO, he said he hoped police would take more action to deal with the problems.

The council report warned that car-meets "pose a risk of serious harm".

It added that while "there have not been any serious incidents or fatalities…in Norwich to date, where the issue is allowed to persist, it is likely a serious incident will occur."

Other parts of Norfolk, including Broadland, Breckland and Great Yarmouth have similar PSPOs in place.

The council's cabinet is expected to agree to extend the PSPO at a meeting next Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for Norfolk Police said it had been "working with partners, including Norwich City Council" to combat problems in Britannia Road.

"We have regular patrols in hotspot areas and known 'meet' locations," she added.

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