Police go into cruise control over boy racers

A ring of steel was set up around Hedge End retail park a known meeting place for car enthusiasts in a bid to put a stop to the antisocial and often dangerous driving.

Every car going in or out of the area was liable to be stop checked by officers and those flouting the law were pulled over and action taken.

The operation involving more than 20 officers was in response to numerous complaints from residents, businesses and those who use the retail park.

According to police, although many are there to simply show off their cars, others use the area as a race track, reaching high speeds in often unroadworthy cars.

By 9pm the ring of steel was established around the hub of the activity at the fast food outlets in the retail park.

Teams of officers were set up at three stop check points and any vehicle seen speeding, driving irresponsibly or thought to have been modified to the point where it broke the law, were stopped.

Uniformed officers, dog handlers, traffic police and a vehicle inspection officer were all involved in the operation from 8pm yesterday.

Leading the operation Insp Shona Hood said: "We are not there to target those who are using legitimate legal cars and are there just to show them off. It is the element that then cross the line and start using the area like a race track.

"It is intimidating for those who use the parks, often families going to the fast food restaurants, and also residents who can hear the noise.

"We want to get the message across that Hedge End is not the place to come to do this sort of thing, as they have often come from as far away as Bournemouth. They can expect to be stopped and were necessary have action taken against them."

Large groups congregating around the fast food restaurants were spoken to and cars checked over by the vehicle inspectorate.

At least one car was declared unsafe for the roads due to excessively blacked out windows.

Scores of cars were also pulled over and checked as part of the operation.