Boy racers risk losing cars

Insp Geoff Carter, of Pontefract and Knottingley neighbourhood police team, issued the warning after complaints from people living near South Baileygate retail park.

He said groups of car enthusiasts have been gathering in car parks in Pontefract Park, the town’s Morrisons supermarket and South Elmsall.

Insp Carter said: “We’ve had a lot of complaints about engine noise, loud music and screeching tyres in car parks across the area.

“This kind of behaviour has been going on until the early hours and causing a real problem to people living near the sites.”

Police issued a dispersal order for Pontefract Park on Sunday and also issued a 19-year-old motorist with a section 59 order in relation to driving his car in an “anti-social manner” in the Morrison’s supermarket in Pontefract on Monday.

Insp Carter said: “I don’t want to be having to take cars away from people but this issue is causing a lot of disruption to people right across the area.

“It is quite an emotive issue and people might think they’re not doing anything wrong but it is having a huge effect on a lot of people.

“For example, there is one lady in South Elmsall who keeps on getting woken up in the early hours of the morning.

“I’d ask those that are doing it to think of the impact that would have if it was their mother or grandmother,” he added.

Insp Carter said the police is working with Wakefield Council to look at legislation to clamp down on the problem.

Anyone with any information about the recent incidents or wanting to report a problem should contact police on 101.