Measures renewed to tackle vehicle-related anti-social behaviour in Great Yarmouth

At a meeting of the council, members agreed to renew a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that prohibits a range of things, including performing vehicle stunts, rapid acceleration/deceleration, playing loud music and excessive revving of engines.

Following a public consultation last year, the order - first introduced in 2017 - will run until 2029. It was initially targeted along the seafront in Great Yarmouth using powers introduced by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Car enthusiasts have met on the seafront for more than 40 years and while most are well behaved, a small minority cause harassment, alarm or distress and, on occasions, can potentially endanger public safety.

A report to the council said that since the PSPO was first launched there has been a reduction in bad behaviour. However, the report highlighted a change in the way car enthusiasts meet.

Gatherings are now more fluid and take place in a variety of locations, with repeated issues on the Gorleston/Bradwell link road, Lowestoft Road and Caister bypass/Norwich Road.

Members were told more than 100 vehicles attended one meet, parking along verges with reports of racing on the dual carriageway. As a result, 50 warning letters were sent to vehicle owners. On another occasion, police set up cameras around other parts of Great Yarmouth, which resulted in 79 road traffic offences being reported.

As a result, the renewed PSPO has been extended so it covers the whole borough and includes new powers, including a requirement for those committing anti-social behaviour to leave the location for 12 hours, and it is now a breach for at least three people to congregate in two or more vehicles and to, or be likely to, cause nuisance to people in the area.

Sanctions range from verbal warnings for minor breaches, through to Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) or prosecution. Enforcement is supported through the police CCTV vehicle and the use of the noise camera on Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth. The noise camera picks up excessive noise, often associated with stunts or excessive acceleration.

Last year 14 verbal warnings and six FPNs were issued, with two prosecutions.

There are currently three PSPOs in the borough that enable the council - in partnership with the police - to deal with anti-social behaviour around public drinking of alcohol, begging, urinating in public, spitting and riding bikes or e-scooters on paths, vehicles and dog control.

Full information about the PSPOs in place in Great Yarmouth can be found on the council's website here: https://www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/public-space-protection-orders