THURROCK Council and Essex Police officers recently joined forces for a two-day operation to tackle car cruisers in West Thurrock and Thurrock Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill joined them for the exercise.

Cllr Gledhill, who is also cabinet member for public protection and anti-social behavioursaid: "We have once again shown car cruisers that will not tolerate their reckless and anti-social behaviour on our roads and any attempt to flout the West Thurrock Public Space Protection Order will be met with strict enforcement action.

"Local residents in Chafford and the surrounding areas should not have to put up with the noise from the illegal car meets and cruising events. These drivers put themselves, spectators and other road users at risk and it is only right that we take action to stamp out their dangerous activities. That is why we have a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in place to prevent this kind of activity in West Thurrock.

"We will continue to take tough action against anyone who disobeys this order and thinks that they can use Thurrock's roads as racing tracks and a place for illegal car shows. This approach appears to be working, the vast majority of those who were in the area were acting responsibly and considerately.

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

The operation saw four drivers issued tickets for motoring offences, two drivers warned their vehicles could be confiscated, five searches carried out and one person fined for breaching the terms of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that prevents car cruisers from meeting in West Thurrock. In addition to this, one driver was stopped for speeding and two more will end up in court for speeding because they reached speeds in excess of 120 miles an hour.