Burnham-On-Sea police have issued over 25 warnings, 100 fixed penalty notices and seized at least two vehicles in an operation to crackdown on anti-social driving in the town so far this year.
Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report last month how a speeding crackdown had been launched on the town’s seafront (as pictured above) and this has been stepped up with the launch of ‘Operation Go Slow’.
Police are working together with partner agencies and community groups to find a long-term solution to anti-social driving in the town. It follows a Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting in May, when residents prioritised anti-social driving as one of the main policing issues affecting Burnham, particularly the South Esplanade.
A meeting was held last week between local police, Somerset County Council Highways, Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, Sedgemoor District Council and Burnham Holiday Village to look at a long-term solution to the problem.
Burnham’s Sgt Ian Kennett told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Anti-social driving has been an issue affecting the town for many years. The police are now working together with partner agencies and community groups to tackle the problem long term.”
“Operation Go Slow will now be stepping up a gear and the message to careless drivers is clear – Burnham is not a race track and anyone driving in an antisocial manner will face serious risk of prosecution.”
“This is an issue which affects many residents and visitors to the town and we are determined to seek a long term solution.”
The police do already have an effective tool for dealing with motorists who drive in an antisocial manner. Under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 anyone driving without the expected care and attention will receive a warning notice which applies to both the driver and the vehicle and lasts for 12 months. If in this time a second incident occurs – involving the driver or the vehicle – police will seize the vehicle and may prosecute the driver.
