THURROCK's council leader has spoken up in praise of his officers and police after 24 drivers were punished while showing off their cars.

Over the weekend a joint operation between Thurrock Council's environmental enforcement officers and Essex Police saw 24 drivers issued with fixed penalty notices and three drivers warned that their vehicles could be confiscated.

During two evenings of coordinated activity on Saturday and Sunday (10 and 11 July), 16 drivers were issued fines for breaching the terms of the public space protection order (PSPO) that prevents car cruisers from meeting in West Thurrock. A further seven were issued penalty notices by police officers for other driving offences and one was fined for littering.

Thurrock Council's leader, Cllr Rob Gledhill, who is also cabinet member for public protection and anti-social behaviour, said: "We have once again shown nuisance drivers that we will not tolerate any attempt to flout the order that stops car cruisers from meeting to hold their reckless and anti-social events on our roads.

"Local residents in Chafford and the surrounding areas should not have to put up with the noise from these illegal meet-ups and with more properties already built in the Lakeside basin the number of residents they are affecting is only increasing.

"Now add that to the danger they pose to themselves or those watching and I am sure residents will understand why this action has been taken.

"We will continue to take tough action against anyone who disobeys this order and thinks that they can use Thurrock's roads as illegal car show and racing tracks. Indeed we are about to start consultation to extending the PSPO in the area to continue to tackle this problem.

"This is yet another excellent example of our officers working with Essex Police to address anti-social behaviour in the borough."

The West Thurrock Public Space Protection Order has been in place since 2015. It prevents vehicles, drivers, passengers or spectators from taking part in any car cruising event.

For more information on the West Thurrock PSPO, click this link.