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Last Updated: 41 seconds ago
Cars, electric bikes and electric scooters were taken off the road during a Friday night operation at Broughton Retail Park. Police say young drivers gathering on the car park there have been an ongoing problem.
North Wales Police said twelve vehicles were seized from young drivers. The operation was part of a fortnight-long campaign aimed at improving road safety among younger motorists.
One night at Broughton
Roads Crime Unit officers went to the retail park following reports of young drivers congregating on the car park. Over the course of the night they:
- dealt with six cars, two electric bikes and two electric scooters
- issued fifteen tickets for offences ranging from speeding to using a mobile phone while driving
- attended a collision in which only damage was caused
- arrested a driver on suspicion of drink driving
The wider campaign
The force has spent the past two weeks supporting Op Spotlight Young Drivers. The campaign set out to educate young drivers, identify those putting themselves and others at risk, and tackle offences including speeding, drug driving and using vehicles without meeting the necessary legal requirements.
As part of this, officers visited venues across North Wales to talk with young drivers, including the Mostyn Champneys Retail Park in Llandudno.
Arrested a second time
A 25-year-old man was stopped in Bangor shortly after midnight on 26th September. He tested positive for both cannabis and cocaine. He was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and taken into custody, then later released under investigation while officers wait for further test results.
Police say he had been warned, but he went back to his car anyway. He was stopped again on the A55 eastbound as he tried to get home to Shotton in Flintshire, and was arrested once more after testing positive.
Other cases during the campaign
- Broughton Shopping Park, September 24th: shortly after 9pm, an 18-year-old woman crashed into another vehicle while driving her friend’s car without insurance. Only damage was caused. She was reported for having no insurance and the car was seized.
- A4871, Caernarfon, September 28th: at around 8pm, officers seized an electric scooter from a young rider, who was reported for offences.
- Excess speed: a young driver was given a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) after being recorded at 82mph in a 60mph zone. He already had 3 points on his licence. Drivers who reach six points within two years of passing their test lose their licence, and police said that is the likely outcome for him.
What police said
Sergeant Simon Hughes of the Roads Crime Unit, the operational lead for Op Spotlight, said: “Operation Spotlight has provided an opportunity for our officers to engage with young drivers and reinforce the importance of making safe and responsible choices on the road.
“The vast majority of young people drive responsibly, but where we identify behaviour that puts drivers, passengers or other road users at risk, we will take action.
“The campaign may have ended, but work has not. We will continue to patrol the roads and deal with offences such as speeding, dangerous or careless driving whilst under the influence.
“We would encourage all road users to think about their behaviour and the potential consequences of taking unnecessary risks. We’re also encouraging parents and guardians to help us instil the safety messaging which could help protect their children – we all have a part to play in making our roads a safer place. A moment of poor judgement can have life-changing consequences.”
Reporting concerns
Anyone with information about anti-social driving can contact North Wales Police through the force’s website or by calling 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.
