Shredded tyres highlight car stunts danger - claim

Car enthusiasts are posing a danger to themselves and others, according to a man who has captured evidence of an unauthorised meet.

Shaun Bede-Cox, a warehouse manager for AM Trading in Harleston, Norfolk, said he had video footage suggesting drivers had been performing stunts, and found a shredded tyre in his yard.

He said he feared drivers would leave the site with damaged or bald tyres that could affect handling on a road.

Norfolk Police, which attended the gathering at Harleston Industrial Estate on 31 March, warned drivers faced fines of up to £1,000 for antisocial driving.

Mr Bede-Cox said: "I got woken up about midnight by my wife saying 'Someone's at the warehouse' and she started the camera rolling, showing loads of kids coming on to the industrial estate.

"One had a recovery truck; I presume [so] if a car dies, [it] can be taken away later.

"In one of my videos, you can see lights going round and see the smoke of the tyres, and [at one point] what sounded like a tyre go [burst]."

He said while the camera did not pick up drivers performing "doughnuts" - stunts involving cars being skidded in circles - chunks of burnt-out tyres were evidence of this.

"Last time it happened, the policeman was rather worried because they will race from one event to another and, of course, they're on a public highway where they could be a danger to everyone else," he said.

"I think they all young; they're all novice drivers and they've got fast cars.

"At the end of the day they need to see a proper accident and see what happens to people when they have an accident."

The Harleston meet happened days before a Public Spaces Protection Order came into force covering all of the neighbouring Breckland district, giving police more powers to deal with cars being driven in an antisocial manner and playing loud music.

Norfolk Police said in 2023 it launched a "dynamic new approach" to tackling vehicle-related anti-social behaviour, using such orders.

In a statement, it said: "We were experiencing a steady rise in car meets across the county [that] can involve in excess of 300 cars and over 500 people, which poses a significant risk to road safety and the wider community.

"Actions of some drivers, such as speeding, performing 'doughnuts' and inappropriate parking can cause serious disruption in the local area."

It said its focus was not genuine car enthusiasts, but those who threatened the safety of their local community.

"Taking risks behind the wheel will not be tolerated in Norfolk," it added.

"Operation Octane will work to prosecute those who drive to a poor standard in our county and prevent them from interrupting organised car meets."

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