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Car cruises

Unfortunately, previous car cruises in the Avon and Somerset area have caused extensive distress, danger and nuisance. As a result many car cruisers have been arrested, fined and have had their cars seized.

Don't participate in unauthorised cruises! There are many legal car shows all over the country... they are well organised, safe and probably more fun too!

The Police advice on cruises:

We will not encourage, authorise or condone unauthorised cruises (or 'boy racers') and we will act in a positive and proactive fashion to prevent them. Action we have taken and will consider taking in the future include:

• Arresting those organising, encouraging others to, or actually taking part in 'cruises' (or 'boy racers') for the offences of causing or conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. This is a serious offence that can bring with it a term of imprisonment.
• Seizing vehicles, mobile phones, computers used for posting messages and other evidence of involvement in such offences using powers such as those provided by the Police & Criminal Evidence Act.
• Upon conviction we may request the court exercise their power to make a forfeiture or destruction order in respect of any evidence we have seized and retained. That places vehicles and any other item we have seized and retained, at risk.

In addition we may make use of the powers provided by the Police Reform Act where appropriate. Essentially the powers have both extended the circumstances under which we can take legal action and the nature of that action.

The nuisance vehicle database will be used to show that a car owner has received a previous warning and could therefore be liable for arrest and/or have their vehicle seized. In many circumstances legal action can be taken straight away... without a warning!

What happened at a previous car cruise...

On the 31st March 2002 in Weston-super-Mare a total of 18 vehicles were seized and retained for up to a month as evidence pending the completion of the police investigation.

• 24 people were arrested.
• Fines of £350 were imposed at a Magistrates Court.
• 14 people elected to have a trail at Crown Court and after several months on bail and employing expensive barristers they were all bound over to keep the peace.
• One person lost their job and another person was disciplined.