CAR CRUISIN
A POLICE
GUIDE
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CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION: ............................................................................................................................................... 3
THE EVOLUTION OF CAR CRUISIN: ............................................................................................................ 4
A "CRUISE"-THE KEY FEATURES:............................................................................................................... 6
POLICING CONSIDERATIONS: ...................................................................................................................... 6
INFORMATION AND INTELLIGENCE: ........................................................................................................ 8
PLANNING: .......................................................................................................................................................... 8
PREVENTION: ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
FACILITATE:....................................................................................................................................................... 9
RESOURCES. ..................................................................................................................................................... 10
POST EVENT: .................................................................................................................................................... 11
WHO FUNDS ALL THE ABOVE?................................................................................................................... 11
MAX POWER MAGAZINE:............................................................................................................................. 12
MARK BOND: SOME THOUGHTS FROM A ONE TIME LEGAL CRUISE ORGANISER .................. 12
MR SEAN BOWEN: THE RETAILERS PERSPECTIVE ............................................................................. 13
CAR CRUISES – THE RETAILERS PERSPECTIVE ................................................................................... 13
MR STUART GREEN. REGIONAL SECURITY MANAGER MACDONALDS RESTARAUNTS ........ 14
AVAILABLE LEGISLATION: ......................................................................................................................... 15
USEFUL CONTACTS / INFORMATION: ...................................................................................................... 17
CAR CRUISING SEMINAR PROGRAMME ................................................................................................. 18
CONTACT LIST ................................................................................................................................................. 19
SAMPLE INTERNET WEB LINKS: ............................................................................................................... 22
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"CAR CRUISIN"
A POLICE PRACTITIONERS GUIDE:
Introduction:
"Car Cruisin"(to use their spelling) is an ever increasing issue for police forces and their
partners in retail and other industries. Most police forces have experienced such events, be
they small sporadic gatherings or more commonly, large pre-planned events.
Following interest from several police forces to examine this issue, a workshop was held at
the National Operations Faculty, Bramshill with representatives from twenty-one police
forces attending.
The aim of the workshop was to bring together officers from police forces effected by this
craze to examine the policing issues and identify the policing needs. The attending officers
were all practitioners and facilitated a realistic view of the difficulties faced in the policing of
cruises.
Following this workshop a need was identified for a seminar on this issue to further promote
information exchange amongst forces and to examine the issues concerning other stakeholders
such as the retail park industries, car magazines and fast food outlets.
This seminar was subsequently held at Bramshill and was attended by delegates from most
UK police forces and representatives from other stakeholders concerned. There were both
police and non-police speakers including speakers from Max Power magazine, McDonalds
restaurant chain and a "Legal Cruise" organiser.
This guide is the product of the workshop and seminar and of work carried out by Chief
Inspector Steve Anderson of West Midlands's police who has produced significant research
into the car cruisin culture. This guide is aimed at operational officers and planners and seeks
to be a practical document. It will not claim to have all the answers or be prescriptive but will
promote a flexible policing approach and use of partnerships to encourage legal and safe
organised events.
This guide contains information on the following areas:
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The evolution of Car Cruisin
A Cruise-the key features
Policing considerations
Information and Intelligence
Planning and resourcing
Events
Comments from stakeholders
Legislation
Useful contacts
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The evolution of Car Cruisin:
The sub-culture of the Cruiser was born in the 1960's when following the post war re-building
of the 50's there was more wealth, which led to more disposable income. More members of
the common public were able to buy forms of motorised transport.
In the United States there were already illegal drag races and Chicken runs where the looser
forfeited their pink slip (ownership papers) on their car or motorcycle. These usually took
place on deserted country roads where police patrols were rare and the public not
inconvenienced. However several deaths and serious injuries did result.
In the UK the sub-culture of the cruiser was born with the Café' racers.
By the time of the 70's cruisers had diversified. There were several sub-groups, for example,
Hot rods, Drag cars, Sports motorcycles, and road going Rally Cars. (E.g. Mini Cooper S,
Ford Escort Mexico).
All shared a common aim of worshipping the vehicle of their choice.
Due to the increase in vehicular traffic, the Highways Act 1960 was brought into effect.
Regular legislative updates including the Road Traffic act 1972 and many others have since
followed this.
By the end of the 70's car manufacturers had produced the new Hot Hatches, GTI's, GTE's,
SRI's, etc.
Motorcycle manufacturers produced sports bikes with ever increasing top speeds like the
CBR, ZZR and GSX ranges.
Owner's clubs sprouted up, but for many these were too sedate and offered no real excitement
or opportunity to show off.
Meets and Cruises developed and spread, growing in size and number through word of mouth.
These at first were not policed, however the scale of some became so large that the police in
fact began to take action which at times was reactive heavy enforcement and without
specifically applicable legislation.
Examples included, The Chelsea Cruise, which became so that members of the public
complained about the noise and antics of the drivers attending. The Metropolitan Police,
together with the Royal Parks police, organised a legal cruise, charging for entry into Hyde
Park, allowing the facility for participants to "show" their vehicles with the noise levels and
potential for disorder monitored and poor driving addressed.
This however died out due to lack of interest. Again cruisers wanted to demonstrate the
capabilities of their cars rather than just appearance.
As well as this there was also the M25 challenge and John O' Groats to Lands End record
challenges.
By the end of the 80's there were many young people in the 18 to 25 age groups who found
themselves with sufficient disposable income to afford performance vehicles Thus the culture
of boy racer grew within the cruise movement.
Throughout the UK police officers can recollect the gradual development and establishment
of car cruiser sites.
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For many years now we have been in the age of the car. Even at a recent Green Party Eco
Friendly conference, every teenager stated their intention to buy a car as soon as they were old
enough and could afford it.
The initial outlay for a motorcar nowadays is cheaper than ever before and you can pick up a
second hand cheap Hot Hatch for as little as £500. The build quality of modern cars is quite
high and cars have a longer life span. Although running costs are quite high, the disposable
income amongst many young people does not exclude them from this market.
It is evident in fact that car ownership for young people is viewed as an automatic right rather
than a privilege.
Participation in motorsports has developed into a costly and prohibitive pursuit. In the 60's
and 70's anyone who wanted to enter rallying, hill climbs and scrambling could do so.
Motorsport has now mushroomed into a billion-dollar business and only the rich or sponsored
are able to take part.
The industry has seen the growth of specialist TV programmes and publications such as Max
Power Magazine and of specialist shops such as Ripspeed (an offshoot of Halfords).
This shows the demand is there, which in turn opens cruisin up to a wider spectrum of the
public. The Cruise scene has a certain underground anti-establishment feel, which is in vogue
with today's youth.
The numbers becoming involved continue to grow promoted by mobile phones, e-mails,
Internet web sites and advertising.
The behaviour and antics of the cruisers vary considerably. Some merely want to "show" their
cars and discuss with like-minded individuals. Others want to show off the performance
capabilities of their cars or the quality and output of their in car entertainment system. Then
there are some others who steal cars for the purpose of racing them around public roads and
then dump them afterwards. Some who rent cars do the same, often loosing their deposits.
Others buy a banger for 50 quid, flog it to death and leave it to die. These are not true Cruisers
but are more like boy racers who tag along with the cruisin scene.
Therein lies the reason for police involvement. Whilst we would like to pay no more than a
passing interest in groups of young motorists standing around talking about their cars, we
cannot do the same when stolen or uninsured cars are present or where the driving standards
on public roads falls below that of a competent driver.
Public safety is threatened and lives are put at risk. In addition there are disorder issues when
in addition missiles are thrown at passing buses, taxi's or police vehicles and crowd members
shout abuse or engage in disorderly, threatening or violent behaviour.
Many forces now have several well-established cruise sites, falling on different days of the
week. Some are located on shopping malls and retail parks and some are sighted on council
car parks and public roads.
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A "Cruise"-the key features:
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Cruise is not illegal "persay"
Gathering of young people, predominately young single males with disposable income,
most of who have never beforehand had dealings with the police.
Mainly take place in the evenings, weekends and Bank holidays.
Young single females who draw the attentions of the young males.
A focus upon vehicles, mainly hot hatches which have been modified or restyled.
Loud music produced from upgraded in-car entertainment systems.
A non-governed event attempting and promoting autonomy.
Usually arranged via the Internet, mobile phones and flyers.
Non-prescriptive with no 2 cruises being exactly the same.
Involves displays of ladish behaviour.
Stunt driving with wheel spinning and do-nutting.
Can be located anywhere but usually at large retail parks with fast food outlets on site or
nearby. Have been held on public roads.
Policing considerations:
Presently police forces have differing approaches to dealing with the cruise issue. Is it traffic
or a public disorder problem? Whichever way it is approached the issues are the same:
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People: large numbers of people, often arriving in large convoys from all directions can
attend the event. There are issues of safety and crowd management, with no organiser
easily identifiable to accept liability. Often small sections of the groups may behave in a
disorderly manner increasing the likelihood of the spread of more serious and wide spread
general disorder. The events can attract a criminal element targeting the young
participants and encouraging lawlessness.
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Vehicles: Participants are generally proud of their cars and take great care and time in
maintaining them. However there is another element amongst the group who in making
modifications to their cars to enhance its performance or appearance have made dangerous
and unsafe modifications or who's insurance would be void or voidable. Often cars may
be hired by participants who do not have their own funds to maintain the desirable hot
hatch.
Wheelspining and do-nutting are popular and often drivers will place bald or balding tyres
on their vehicles when performing such dangerous stunts. Stolen vehicles can also be seen
and are often driven to extinction for the amusement of the crowd.
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Music: Sound systems in vehicles can be enhanced and upgraded to such an extent that
the gathering may seem more like a motor car "Rave". Loud music with regular base beat
is popular and can add to the annoyance, which can be caused to non-participants or
nearby residents.
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Behaviour: Cruise events will often promote a feeling of autonomy amongst the
participants. There may be no obvious ownership of the event, with no organiser
identifiable. Behaviour can become volatile and indecency can be accepted as the norm,
with men and woman exposing parts of their bodies for amusement of others or even to be
filmed or photographed. Behaviour of groups can be considered rebellious and
uncooperative, however any police response to this behaviour needs to be appropriate so
as not to become part of the amusement or entertainment of the cruise.
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Location: There are two main considerations as to the location; Public or Private. The
location of the illegal cruise can change at short notice via the extensive use of mobile
phones. It will cross force or divisional boundaries. Sometimes anywhere will do.
Private locations will include Industrial estates, Retail Parks, and Car parks. Common
attraction for such locations is the presence of fast food outlets and it being a safer option
than the general highway. There is more room for stunts and slicker road surfaces.
Straight roads for more speed with less space heighten the thrill. There is less likelihood
of interference from the non-involved public. Policing issues include identification and
appropriate use of legislation, or the lack of it. Pressure from managers of businesses who
are effected by the cruise demanding you do something about it. Annoyance is caused to
members of the public shopping if on retail parks. There are issues of damage caused to
road surfaces and other equipment, emergency access, lighting and safety of the location.
Public roads. The volume and speed of traffic makes the cruise taking place on public
roads additionally hazardous. Safety issues again present themselves with potential for
increase in demand of emergency services whilst access may be reduced. Damage can be
caused to road surfaces by wheel spinners and do-nutting. There may be liability issues for
police when dealing with the illegal road cruises, which are harder to police than those in
more, contained private locations. Appropriate use of available legislation also presents
challenges to police.
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Legal Cruise. There are some legal cruises. These provide opportunity for police and
stakeholders to become involved with the organisers in the planning stages and to
participate on the day. The main policing considerations will be the prior and post policing
of the event and safe traffic management, similar to any large vehicular event.
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Police. Overall the main direct issues for police will involve:
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Maintaining the Human Rights of all concerned.
The facilitation of the lawful trade and business.
Maintenance of a normal policing service for the local communities.
Resourcing and costs to the force.
Flexibility of operations.
Co-operation with businesses and other partners.
Co-operation with and from other forces.
Use of available legislation.
Force image and complaints against police.
Relevance to local policing plan.
Training.
Avoid criminalising all cruisers. Target the criminal element and avoid a knee jerk
response.
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Information and Intelligence:
Actionable intelligence structures should be in place to guide police response. The following
areas can be sources of intelligence:
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Internet, research of cruise web sites.
Force traffic intelligence officers.
Force special branch.
Publications, literature, magazines and flyers.
Local liaison, direct contact with local groups.
Evidence gathering teams.
Affected companies
CCTV.
Dedicated operational teams.
Local beat officers.
Use of informants to gauge the scale of the event and information on specific planned
activity.
Undercover officers in high performance cars (borrow from crime squad?)
Surveillance (authority should be used in accordance with Regulation of Investigatory
Powers Act guidelines).
Management of intelligence in accordance with the NCIS Intelligence Model.
Forces must ensure that proper tested systems are in place for the collection, analysis and
dissemination of intelligence and they may wish to also consider the sharing of open source
intelligence with other stakeholders.
Planning:
Pre event:
The question of whether the cruise is a legal and organised event or a sporadic and illegal
event will obviously direct as to how the affected police force or other stakeholder will
approach it.
Information and intelligence received will answer this question. It should no longer be the
case that forces be surprised with an event which apparently has sprung out of nowhere.
The question will be are we going to facilitate or prevent this event from happening?
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Prevention:
Police forces effected by illegal events have used varying levels of action, usually involving
Low Tolerance policing:
Misinformation on Internet web sites, e.g. event cancelled.
Notifications to suspected organisers of liability and litigation implications. (Copy page).
Positive action against Public Order Act offences and use of preventative powers under the
Public Order Act. (see legislation)
Positive action with enforcement of Traffic Law.
Use of local by-laws on car parks.
Car parks are public places for the Road Traffic Act.
Mass stop checks of vehicles and issuing of HORT1.
Use of Automatic Number- Plate recognition System.
Notification to insurance companies of vehicle modifications.
On- site vehicle examinations including windscreen-tinting checks.
Vehicle Inspectorate examiners for modified vehicles.
Prohibition of vehicles following examination if faulty.
Fixed penalties or reporting for summons for all vehicular con & use offences.
Displacement and dispersal of vehicles.
Police drugs dog to ID vehicles for search.
Notifications to parents of youths using their cars.
Road closure.
Other stakeholders can also take steps to target harden themselves against such events:
Instillation of temporary barriers.
Security personnel
CCTV
At the design stage for new sites include measures such as speed humps or concrete pillars to
ensure slow traffic.
Keep fast food restaurants further away from the retail business areas.
Litigation against suspected organisers.
Facilitate:
In deciding to solve the issue in a Problem Solving Partnership approach all stakeholders must
be identified and considered, for example:
Local Authorities.
Local community groups.
Residents associations.
Police.
CPS.
Magistrates association.
Landowners.
Retailers.
Fast food restaurants.
Event organisers.
Event participants.
Highways authority.
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Media.
Specialist magazines.
Site agents.
Motorway service outlets.
Vehicle Inspectorate.
Having identified stakeholders concerned the next step is to bring them together in a forum to
clarify the direction, roles and responsibilities within the project:
The lead agency needs to be identified. This ideally should not be the police.
Identification of possible event organisers can be done via Local Authority and County
Council systems and records.
Examples of current cruise event organisers include a farmer making use spare land and the
owner of a "banger racing" ring circuit.
Identification of suitable venues should be carried out by the organiser or lead agency, but
initially nowhere should be discounted. Appropriate risk assessment will highlight those
venues, which are suitable.
The identification of all-potential problems or barriers to be overcome is essential at the preplanning stage.
A risk assessed and problem solving partnership approach will no doubt identify solutions to
outlying challenges.
The capabilities of the organiser need to be considered at an early stage. Have they organised
similar events before? What are their organisational skills? Do they have the required support
structure? What will they need from you?
Resources.
What is needed and is available?
Police:
Traffic, uniform, horses, air support, dogs, evidence gatherers, FIT teams, under cover
officers, specials, media dept.
Others:
Local authority, other emergency services, environmental health, recovery firms, private
security, facilities management, toilets, car parking, media, barriers, signs, communication,
and legal representation.
In the planning stages consideration should be given to the guidance in manuals such as the
Purple Guide (Oct 1999) and the Event Safety Guide.
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Training:
Training of police officers is generally current and knowledge of, and use of appropriate
legislation reasonably achievable through appropriate briefings and command and control.
The issue may be the level of training and knowledge of the other stakeholders:
Legislation.
Health and safety.
Crime and Disorder partnerships (sect 17).
Private security industry powers.
Interpersonal skills.
Command and control skills.
Event and Traffic management.
Prohibition powers.
These areas again should not be the responsibility of the police but that of the stakeholders
and partners. Still there is no reason in considering a partnership problem solving approach
that where suitable, appropriate training resources should not be shared.
Post event:
Following any event, planned or not, legal or not, there should be a review of the operation to
identify successful practices and, more importantly those areas where an evaluation of the
police or partners practice needs to be made:
Effective de-briefs are a method of carrying out such reviews.
This allows for the identification and dissemination of experiences learnt.
Where appropriate, evidence can be gathered for use in proceedings.
If needed post-incident investigation can be commenced.
Who de-briefs whom?
All relevant stakeholders should be de-briefed. Some events may allow this at a group
session. Others may require "hot de-brief" and a structured de-brief at a later stage.
Consideration could be made for individual de-brief forms for all the stakeholders involved.
The type of event and partners involved obviously will guide the question of who de-briefs
whom. This may be an area where the police will take the lead, and facilitate the de-brief.
Who funds all the above?
As previously mentioned, there are two main police approaches to the issue of car cruisin,
police it out and facilitate lawful events.
Large-scale policing operations are expensive and only really serve to displace the problem. It
does not solve the problem itself. A problem solving partnership approach not only brings on
board other stakeholders who have the resources needed, but offsets the policing costs.
Eventually the event could be self-financing with revenue raised from grants, participants and
sponsors, drastically reduced policing costs. There will be increased safety, reduction in
potential crime and a more positive relationship between the police and the impressionable
young people who go to these events.
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Max Power Magazine:
I believe the best course of action for the police to take is containment. Rather than trying to
close cruises down - which only moves them across town to a different car park, or, worse
still, on to the streets - the police should confine the cruise to a single, controllable location.
In my experience the vast majority of cruisers aren't looking for trouble, however, there is
often a hardcore element trying to push the boundaries.
The problem the police have is that these guys are the heroes of the rest, doing the things they
wouldn't dare. Perhaps the police could hand out standard notices as people drive into the
cruise explaining how they are going to play it. I think most cruisers realise that once they are
out of the car park, they should drive sensibly any that can hardly complain if they are
stopped legitimately.
John Sootheran
Editor
Mark Bond:
Some thoughts on “Legal Cruises” from a one-time Legal Cruise organiser.
The requirement to provide alternative safe sites and events for cruisers has been highlighted;
and a number of “legal” cruises have been operated at a variety of venues.
For a venue to be “safe” it must provide the following:
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A protected environment for spectators.
A contained area for motorised activities.
A presence of professionally trained marshals for both spectators and “competitors”.
Airfields, open land and large race circuits cannot conform to all three of the criteria.
However there are a number of appropriate venues – particularly “ORCi” Stock Car tracks.
Stockcar venues typically are ¼ mile asphalt ovals – with safety fencing surrounding the
racing surface. Because these venues are small, cars cannot reach high speeds. Spectators are
close to the track yet safe from moving vehicles.
A number of cruises have been successfully run at Stockcar tracks – including one at
Birmingham Wheels, operated by Incarace Ltd (us!)
“Cruisers” were happy for a Police presence at this event – and in fact the majority seem to
prefer a police presence.
At the Birmingham Wheels cruise, it was noticeable that there were two distinct “camps” –
these could be described as the “boy racers” and the “cruisers”.
Briefly, the “cruisers” enjoyed simply showing off their cars in static displays, and maybe
taking part in the “Show and Shine” event or the “Burn Out” sessions. They were well
behaved and easy to control.
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The “boy racers” were interested in racing their cars. They were less easy to control, and were
difficult to communicate with.
There was a discernible antagonism between the two groups – law abiding car enthusiasts on
the one hand, and reckless racers on the other.
Conclusions drawn from experimental Birmingham Cruise event were simple … well-run
legal cruises, at safe, appropriate venues, have the ability to separate the “cruisers” from the
“boy racers”.
In the long term, the “boy racers” will return to the streets, whereas the “cruisers” will adopt
these legal events as an opportunity to gather and show their cars.
The challenge of Policing informal cruises occurring on Public highways comes from the
mixing of law-abiding citizens and law-breakers.
Legal cruises can provide an acceptable outlet for the “cruisers”, enabling the “boy racers to
be dealt with in a manner universally appropriate.
Mr Sean Bowen:
CAR CRUISES – THE RETAILERS PERSPECTIVE
Over the past 3 years Asda Supermarket car parks have increasingly become the venue of
choice for a number of ‘cruisers’ throughout the UK. There are several reasons for this many
of which are a by-product of features intended to attract shoppers to the store or to meet their
rising expectations of service.
These include: the availability of large parking areas, free of obstacles such as speed ramps
and landscaped/sectioned off parking areas which customers dislike; the close proximity to
main roads which are nowadays vital for customer access; unrestricted access to the car park
outside trading hours to allow customers to use the ATMs; and often the close proximity to
other facilities such fast such as McDonalds.
Unfortunately there is no quick fix, which easily meets our business needs and prevents our
stores being targeted. However, particularly over the last 12 months, we have increasingly had
to act and secure our car parks overnight in order to protect the safety of our customers and
store colleagues. We have also had to meet the demands from those communities served by
our stores to act as good neighbours and prevent these meetings happening in their area.
From small, local gatherings of car enthusiasts parking up to admire each others vehicles
which we tolerated as causing no offence to anyone, we have reached the stage where over
1,000 people and cars descend on our store car parks, sometimes whilst the store is still open
to the public. The cruisers have then engaged in the dangerous driving antics that I’m sure
have become familiar to all of us. Attempts to manage these incidents have had mixed success
dependent on the Force, intelligence and timing. Without Police assistance some attempts by
us to control access to our car parks on cruise nights, have been met by intimidation and
physical assault. At other times when we have sought assistance, we have been told that there
are simply not enough Police resources available to assist in view of the scale of the event.
The resourcing issue is understood but from our perspective we will often have shoppers and
colleagues still in the store, fearful of their own safety and that of their vehicle(s) outside. On
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a number of occasions we have had to stop trading stores earlier than intended owing to such
gatherings. At just one store over a Bank Holiday weekend last year we lost over £90k worth
of sales through having to shut early.
Over a 6-month period in 2000, cruises cost us over £220,000 in lost sales, the costs of
employing additional security resource to reassure our customers and colleagues, and costs of
installing barriers, bollards etc to seal off our car parks.
You may take the view that a company like Asda can afford such losses and indeed our parent
company Wal*Mart does make significant profits. However, I ask you to remember that
stores like our own are now are integral part of our own communities. The more we have to
harden our premises against cruises, the less attractive a community it becomes to live in. At
the end of the day, we realise that all we are likely to do is displace the gatherings to the
public highway or other retail parks, potentially putting the public more at risk. Each of our
stores employ 500-750 local people and it is these people as well as the shoppers who are
being out at risk by some of the more outrageous driving antics of the cruisers.
Last year we put people before profits and withdrew Max Power magazine from sale in our
stores. This helped to bring their editorial team to the table but we now need clearer
guidelines on how cruise events will be managed in future to make this a less confrontational
issue.
Mr Stuart Green.
Regional security manager McDonalds Restaurants:
The issue of ‘boy racers’ is not new to McDonald’s and local managers have struggled with
the problems they cause for several years. During that time attempts at dissuading their
presence have included speed humps on the drive through’, design of car parks, barriers,
CCTV, and physical security. Their presence is constantly a concern from the safety aspect
and the fear they generate in both staff and customers. Whilst costly in the damage they cause
and the long-term family business they drive away.
It was therefore with some concern and surprise that in early 2000 when ‘cruisin’ came of age
in the U.K. that we found the Company’s name linked on the Inter Net to these events. With
no control over this medium we can only speculate that we were being used as a national
‘sign post’, but certainly we were not consulted, were not involved in their organization and
do not encourage their presence. A view hopefully now widely understood.
So what has and can be done? All Regional Security Managers are retired senior Police
Officers with considerable experience of the wider issues involved in policing such events.
As a socially responsible Company we have therefore sought a partnership approach to find
solutions, liaison with Retail Park Owners and Managers, fellow retail outlets, private
security, and in particular the Police and other Statutory Agencies. Also, being alcohol free
and proficient in dealing with large numbers at speed, in a friendly way, has, we would like to
feel, assisted the Police in a common goal, namely to minimize and control the disruption to
the community these events can cause.
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Available Legislation:
Even with the facilitation of legal, safe events, there will be a necessity to proactively police
sporadic unlawful events and those smaller groups who pose a constant drain on police
recourses:
Traffic:
Stop checks - Road Traffic Act 1988 (Part 7), police power to stop vehicles and require
production of documentation etc. Leads to issue of HORT1.
Construction and Use offences -The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations1986,
use of qualified Police or Vehicle Inspectorate examiners to identify for example, vehicle
faults, windscreen tinting levels and dangerous modifications.
Dangerous vehicles - Road Traffic Act 1988 (Part 2), Provides authority for vehicle
examiners. Includes power of prohibition and offence of using a motor vehicle in a dangerous
condition.
Driving offences - Road Traffic Act 1988 (Part 1), offences of careless and inconsiderate
driving, dangerous driving, leaving vehicle in a dangerous position, racing on a public
highway, driving elsewhere than on a road, wearing of seat belts.
Obstruction of the highway, Section 137 Highways Act - vehicles in stationary obstruction or
driving at very slow speeds.
Insurance offences - Road Traffic Act 1988 (Part 6), insurance policy requirements, insurance
void / voidable - where cars have been modified and insurance companies not notified,
restrictions on use of vehicle i.e. company car.
Traffic direction - Road Traffic Act 1988 (Part 1), drivers to comply with traffic directions.
Damaging the Highway - Section 131 Highways Act, damage caused to tarmac surfaces by
tyres in burnouts.
Public Order:
Section 1 to 5 Public Order Act 1986.
Protection from Harassment Act 1997, sections 1 and 2 may apply to car park groups whose
actions are causing harassment to nearby residents.
Section 60 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Stop and Search powers. Following
intelligence or past incidents of serious violence.
Imposing conditions on Public Processions. Section 12 Public Order Act 1986, a moving car
cruise could be classed as a procession as they are a group of people moving with a common
purpose. Use of this power will obviously depend on previous incidents and intelligence.
Prohibition of Public Assemblies. Sect 13 Public Order Act 1986.
Imposing conditions on Public Assemblies. Sect 14 Public Order Act 1986.
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Trespassory Assembly. Section 70 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Created
Section 14(a) Public Order Act 1986.Allows application by Chief Officer to district council to
prohibit trespassory assembly if it is to be held without the permission of the landowner and
may result in significant disruption to the community or significant damage to the land etc.
Power to direct persons not to proceed to a Trespassory assembly. Section 71 Criminal Justice
and Public Order Act 1994, inserted Section 14 © into the POA which gives a constable in
uniform the power to direct someone not to go to the assembly.
Raves. Section 63 and 64 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Large groups of over
100 and loud modified sound systems can often be found in vehicles. This legislation may
permit the seizure of sound systems in cars.
Aggravated Trespass. Section 68 and 69 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 may
apply on motorway service or retail park car parks. They may become trespassers if directed
by an authorised person to leave the car park and other users i.e. shoppers are being
intimidated or obstructed. Intent is the obvious area of consideration.
Other:
Environmental health - use of local authority officers to prosecute for excessive noise.
Loudspeakers Section 62 Control of Pollution Act.
Local bylaws. Which may restrict the use of public car parks purely for parking and leaving
your vehicle. Can result in £50-00 fines.
Injunctions by business or local authorities against organisers.
Common law BOP. Must be used in the right circumstances, as a Public Order Offence will
usually have been committed. Lends itself to litigation issues.
Human rights - ensuring the rights of the participants but also the rights of those members of
society being harassed by the noise and disruption caused.
16
Useful contacts / information:
Traffic Intelligence Booklet, produced by Staffordshire police. Contains contact details for all
traffic intelligence officers. (01785 232641).
Car cruise seminar 28 Sept 2000 - delegate's details attached.
Seminar programme - attached.
Maxpower and Car Cruises - guidelines for supervisors. Produced by Greater Manchester
Police 23 June 2000. (Force Operations Dept).
EPI-Centre - traffic Intel liaison site.
Internet site web links. Details attached.
Northern Intelligence unit (NPOIU) 01768 217214.
Southern Intelligence Unit (NPOIU) 01793 507866.
17
Car Cruising
Thursday 28 September 2000
Programme
9.30
Registration and Coffee
Nuffield Hall
10.00
Seminar Opening
ACC Blewitt, West Midlands
10.10
Welcome and Introduction
Steve Anderson, West Midlands
10.25
Overview of National Picture
Mr Simon Buckden
10.45
Organisation Legal Cruises
Mr Mark Bond
11.05
Coffee
11.30
Mr Sean Boden
ASDA
11.50
Mr Stewart Green
McDonalds
12.10
Ms Nicky Holt
Max Power Magazine
12.30
Lunch
Newsam Hall
13.30
Andy Dixon
Dorset Police
13.50
Bob Stewart
Northumberland Police
14.10
Graham Banks
Essex Police
14.30
Coffee
15.00
Andy Rawes
GMP
15.20
Andy Grenter
National Operations Faculty
15.40
Steve Anderson
West Midlands
18
Contact List
Car Cruising Seminar – 28 September 2000
Inspector Steve Anderson
West Midlands Police
0121 6266029
Const Bob Stewart
Northumberland police
0191 4547555
C/Insp Andy Rawes
GMP
0161 8561672
Sergeant Alan Adams
Metropolitan Police Service
020 7321 7019
PC Maria Asker
Metropolitan Police Service
0208 247 5100
A/Chief Inspector John Barrett
Staffordshire Police
01785 232652
Chief Inspector James Bettley
Hampshire Police
0845 045 4545
Chief Inspector Des Broster
West Yorkshire Police
01274 376250
Inspector David Carlisle
Humberside Police
01482 597906
Sergeant Andy Chatfield
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
01480 422588
Inspector Paul Collins
Gloucestershire Constabulary
01242 276443
Inspector Mick Copeland
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
01480 422588
PC Zoe Culham
Nottinghamshire Police
0115 967 2228
T/Inspector Andy Dixon
Dorset Police
01202 223902
Chief Inspector Ian Dyson
Metropolitan Police Service
020 8246 0102
PC Chris Eggins
Devon & Cornwall Constabulary
01752 283426
Inspector Andy Dixon
Dorset Police
01929 462727
DC Graham Banks
Essex Police
01245 491491
Const Andy Grentner
N.O.F
01256 692337
Mr Mike Addis
Gloucestershire Constabulary
01242 276400
PC Graham Banks
Essex Police
01245 452906
PC Stuart Bell
South Yorkshire Police
0114 220 2929
Chief Inspector Trevor Brooks
Lincolnshire Police
01522 558111
Inspector Gary Bullock
West Midlands Police
Force Traffic Unit (7982 Ext 6502)
Det Sergeant Derek Chadderton
Greater Manchester Police
0161 856 6733
Mr Ben Clutterbuck
Gloucestershire Constabulary
01242 276443
Sergeant Paul Conroy
Lancashire Constabulary
01772 618011
PC Philip Cronin
Lothian and Borders Police
0131 311 3345
Sergeant Shane Davies
Dyfed-Powys
01267 226354
Sergeant Ron Drake
Warwickshire Police
01675 464444
PC Dave Edmond
Thames Valley Police
01865 846506
Chief Inspector Charles Ellis
Greater Manchester Police
0161 856 1680
19
Inspector Nick Elton
Thames Valley Police
01865 846506
Inspector Carole Entwistle
Lancashire Constabulary
01772 618011
Sergeant Patrick Foley
Derbyshire Constabulary
01773 570100
PC David Gilbert
Nottinghamshire Police
0115 967 2228
Inspector Chris Green
Lincolnshire Police
01522 558111
PC Michael Griffiths
South Yorkshire Police
0114 220 2929
PC Simon Hobson
Suffolk Constabulary
01473 613730
Sergeant Jamie Hogg
Surrey Police
01483 484022
Inspector A Hoy
Northumbria Police
Inspector Alan Jelley
Essex Police
01245 452906
Inspector Gareth Jones
North Wales Police
01492 511090
Sergeant Derek Kevern
Norfolk Constabulary
01603 768769 Ext 6452
Sergeant Keith Kinrade
Isle of Man Constabulary
01624 631444
Sergeant Stephen Lenney
Kent County Constabulary
01474 565109
PC Julian Matthews
Bedfordshire Police
01234 842451
A/Chief Inspector Kevin McGilloway
Cumbria Constabulary
01768 217251
Sergeant Lance Milburn
West Yorkshire Police
01924 219872
Sergeant Iain Murray
Strathclyde Police
0141 532 2908
PC Jeremy Emmitt
North Yorkshire Police
01423 539312
Inspector Neil Ferguson
Norfolk Constabulary
01603 768769 Ext 6412
PC Domini Froy
Hertfordshire Constabulary
01707 354407
Chief Inspector David Goodwin
Lincolnshire Police
01522 885300
PC Sharon Green
Leicestershire Constabulary
0116 248 2414/2415
Inspector Herbert Harper
West Mercia Constabulary
01905 723000
Inspector Douglas Hodge
Hertfordshire Constabulary
01707 354407
PC Andrew Horton
Staffordshire Police
01785 232652
PC Guy Huckle
Metropolitan Police Service
020 8345 4930/76
Det Constable Robert Johnston
Cumbria Constabulary
01768 217214/217211
PC Russ Jordan
Cleveland Police
01642 301309
Sergeant John Kinrade
Isle of Man Constabulary
01624 631444
PC Andrew Leigh-Cattrall
Wiltshire Police
01793 507866
Sergeant Mark Levitt
Wiltshire Constabulary
01793 528111
Inspector Eddy Mayne
Heddlu Gwent Police
01633 245220
PC Philip McNally
Merseyside Police
0151 777 5789
Inspector Bridget Munro
Hampshire Police
01962 871598
PC Clive Needs
Wiltshire Constabulary
01793 891317
20
Inspector Roger Nield
Surrey Police
01483 531111
Sergeant Gordon Pearsall
Bedfordshire Police
01234 842486
FIO Kevin Perrett
Gwent Constabulary
01495 223673
Inspector Matthew Pickard
Derbyshire Constabulary
01773 570100 Ext 2805
PC Alice Rae
West Mercia Constabulary
01905 723000
Chief Inspector Andrew Rawes
Greater Manchester Police
0161 856 1672
Sergeant Ian Roberts
Metropolitan Police Service
0208 246 9826
Inspector David Rowland
Metropolitan Police Service
0208 733 4913
Det Inspector Gary Smith
Kent County Constabulary
PC Michael Stephenson
Norfolk Constabulary
01603 276415
Inspector Jason Stroud
South Wales Police
01656 655555
Inspector James Walker
Cheshire Constabulary
01244 612233
Sergeant Blair Wilson
Cheshire Constabulary
01244 612233
Det Constable Michael Woolachan
Cumbria Constabulary
01768 217295
Inspector Andrew Pavey
Devon & Cornwall Constabulary
01752 283426
PC Stephen Penk
North Wales Police
01492 511090
Inspector Tony Perridge
Leicestershire Constabulary
0116 248 2414
Inspector Alan Prime
Avon & Somerset Constabulary
0117 945 4933
PC Clive Raw
Avon & Somerset Constabulary
0117 945 4967
PC Stewart Reynolds
Derbyshire Constabulary
01773 570100 Ext 2805
Sergeant Andrew Rorks
Humberside Police
01482 597901
PC Sean Russell
West Midlands Police
Force Traffic Unit (7982 Ext 6502)
PC John Stapleford
Suffolk Constabulary
01284 774224
A/Inspector David Stringer
Sussex Police
0845 607 0999
Chief Inspector Martyn Thomas
West Midlands Police
Force Traffic Unit (7982 Ext 6502)
PC Donald Webster
Metropolitan Police Service
0207 232 6930
PC Neil Woods
Kent County Constabulary
01622 630681
PC Neil Youlden
South Wales Police
01656 655555
21
Sample Internet web links:
Fast car magazine.
www.fastcar.co.uk
Max Power magazine:
www.maxpower.co.uk
Cruise Quest site:
www.cruisequest.co.uk
Cruise central site:
www.cruisecentral.co.uk
Cruising Mad site:
www.cruising-mad.com
Cruise legal site:
www.cruiselegal.co.uk
Cardiff cruise:
www.cardiffcruise.co.uk
Chippenham cruise:
www.Cavern.darkgod.net
Coventry cruise:
www.covcruise.co.uk
Manchester cruise:
www.manchestercruise.co.uk
Plymouth cruise:
www.plymouthcruise2.homestead.com
Sheffield cruise:
www.sheffieldcruise.co.uk
Watford cruise:
www.watfordcruise.co.uk
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