Car meets that encourage dangerous and anti-social driving have made a return in Merseyside and the northwest ahead of the warm weather returning.
Last month saw a number of car meets involving anti-social behaviour return to north Merseyside as Southport's Marine Drive was the subject of burnouts and discarded litter. This comes after last summer when anti-social driving became a regular occurrence on the coastal road.
A video was captured on Marine Drive of a car inches away from hitting a crowd of people that had gathered around for the car meet. The driver lost control of the car as he did a burnout on the busy road.
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Less than a month after the video was captured and sent to the ECHO a £215,000 McLaren was seized under Section 59 of the Police and Reform Act 2002 for driving in an anti-social manner on Marine Drive. This was during another car meet on Marine Drive that resulted in eight Section 59 warnings being issued to drivers with it being believed that the majority of cars at the meet travelled into the town for the event.
A warning has been issued as Merseyside Police look to crackdown on the illegal meets that result in anti-social driving.
Community Inspector Graham Fisher said: "We know that driving in an anti-social manner cannot only prove dangerous for those involved and other road users, it can cause people living and working locally significant nuisance. We continue to work proactively with those who have a legal right to meet in public areas, while disrupting those whose behaviour becomes anti-social or criminal, and taking necessary action.
"Where anti-social behaviour has been reported at previous gatherings in Merseyside, police have seized vehicles, issued warnings under Section 59 of the Police and Reform Act 2002 warning drivers their car will be seized if their behaviour continues, and conducted roadside breath tests and drugs wipes.
"We also liaise with neighbouring forces to share information on groups who travel into Merseyside from other parts of the North West, and vice versa. Rest assured that driving anti-socially in Southport, or anywhere in Merseyside, will not be tolerated, and we will continue to respond to concerns raised by the public."
Despite the illegal car meets, there is a legal monthly meet organised by Southport based car group UKHotCars. The group meet on the first Sunday of every month at Marine Lake Cafe where cars park up and drivers admire the vehicles on show.
Although the event isn't a formal arrangement with the council, a Sefton Council spokesperson did confirm that they receive communication from them ahead of events and have contact details for the organisers.
A Sefton Council spokesperson said: "Sefton Council would like to remind anyone using our car parks of the need to be considerate of other people at all times and to behave responsibly whilst on our sites. Additionally, we would encourage people to take any litter home with them and ensure they leave the car parks as they found them"
The monthly events encourage people of all ages to attend and promote creativity amongst the car enthusiast community, a contrasting image to what these late night car meets portray.
The problem with the car meets that encourage and reward anti-social driving appears to be widespread throughout the northwest as this week saw the tragic news that a 20-year-old was killed after being hit by a car at a car meet in Warrington on Sunday, April 10. Sam Harding, from Stockport, died after being hit by a black Audi S3 and was described as a 'sweet angel' by family members.
The late-night car meets are often nicknamed "Mexico" as cars are encouraged to drag race and speed along stretches of roads announced hours before the meet. These groups, often using Instagram and Snapchat to organise the meets, see hundreds of drivers and spectators gather to watch the speeding cars.
Earlier this year GMP seized a BMW after the driver, who in fact had no licence, was seen driving in an anti-social way at a car meet in the area. This comes just a week after Merseyside Police seized a Mazda MX-5 that is believed to be involved in regular car meets across Merseyside and West Lancashire.
Wirral Police Facebook page confirmed the seizure of the car and that the driver had been seen drifting the car after already being warned this year about his driving. The post said: "This week officers have responded to reports of a car meet which took place on Wednesday night on Riverview Road. We have identified the main offending vehicle and driver who was seen drifting on the public road.
"This driving is highly dangerous and the road is not designed for such use. The vehicle involved is also modified with an extremely loud exhaust and using such a vehicle at 11pm is causing distress to the local residents.
"This morning we have traced the vehicle and owner, who has already been formally warned about his driving this year. Subsequently we have seized the vehicle and it now remains in our compound."
