The
Poole Town & Oakdale Safer Neighbourhood Team has successfully
resolved an issue raised by members of the community, after a local
supermarket installed bollards and metal shutters at a car park
where anti-social driving was taking place.
At a safer
neighbourhood public meeting back in July 2009, residents told the
team that there was regular noise disturbance coming from drivers
who were gathering in the car park at ASDA, Holes Bay, during the
lighter evenings of the summer months.
There were reports of loud music being
played in the cars, of engines revving and of drivers performing
wheel-spins in the car park.
Although the problem reduced in the
winter, the Safer Neighbourhood Team still took action and
approached ASDA to discuss the issue, in anticipation of the
problem reoccurring during the lighter and warmer spring and summer
months of 2010.
In January 2010 the bollards were
installed at the car park. Sergeant Billy Bulloch from Poole Town
& Oakdale SNT said: “This is an example
of how the police can work with our partners to resolve the issues
that matter to local people.
“The installation of the bollards will
help to end anti-social driving at this particular car park and we,
the police, have also dealt with the issue in a number of other
ways – we have issued a number of Section 59 warnings and, on one
occasion, seized a vehicle from someone who was driving
anti-socially.”
Jason Hughes, General Manager, ASDA,
Holes Bay said: “As a responsible retailer in the community, we
have listened to the concerns of local residents and, after working
closely with Dorset Police, have taken action to address those
concerns.”
ASDA security will use the bollards and metal
shutters to close the multi-storey car park, where the anti-social
driving was taking place, from 11pm to 8am, starting this evening,
Friday 5 February 2010.
Shoppers will still be able to use the main
car park as normal.
A Section 59 warning can be issued by
police officers and police community support officers to a person
driving a vehicle on or off road in a manner that causes nuisance
or inconvenience to other road users or members of the public. The
warning lasts for 12 months and if the driver is caught driving in
a similar manner during the 12-month period, their car can be
seized and a penalty charge will have to be paid for the car to be
returned.
To find out more about Safer Neighbourhood’s call Dorset
Police on 01202 222222 or 01305 222222, or visit our Local Policing pages on this
website >