Police to get new powers to destroy seized cars and bikes faster

Police to get new powers to destroy seized cars and bikes faster EXCLUSIVE: Legislation set to be put in front of MPs on Wednesday will allow police to destroy vehicles seized because of anti-social behaviour (ASB) to destroyed after just a week Police will be allowed to destroy nuisance vehicles after just seven days under new powers announced this week. Policing minister Sarah Jones told The Mirror the strict new laws will apply to cars and e-scooters seized because of anti-social behaviour (ASB). Legislation to be put in front of MPs on Wednesday will allow officers to dispose of vehicles quicker - giving hooligans less time to reclaim them and start offending again. The Home Office says it will help tackle so-called car meets, where hundreds of drivers cause misery for neighbours by revving up engines and playing loud music late into the night. Ms Jones said:"People across the country are fed up with off-road bikes tearing through parks, dangerous e-scooters on pavements and the chaos of illegal car meets. “These new powers give the police the tools they need to seize and destroy the vehicles that cause so much disruption to our local communities." Under current laws, police must wait 14 days before being able to dispose of a vehicle. Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at The AA, said: "Dangerous and anti-social use of vehicles can bring chaos and danger to local car parks and roads. “The government giving the police more powers to curb activities that continuously aggravate communities is welcome and will hopefully make people think twice before causing a nuisance with their pride and joy." And Rebecca Bryant, chief executive of ASB awareness charity Resolve, said: “Vehicle-related ASB can have a serious and lasting impact on communities. The dangerous, intimidating or nuisance use of vehicles can make residents feel unsafe, trapped and powerless in their own neighbourhoods. “Where vehicles are being used to cause alarm, harassment or distress, communities rightly expect a swift and visible response. We therefore welcome these measures, which give police quicker and more effective powers to deal with vehicles that are being used anti-socially, and should help give communities confidence that vehicle-related ASB will be taken seriously and dealt with quickly." It comes during ASB awareness week, designed to warn thugs ahead of the summer. The policing minister said: "ASB Awareness Week is a timely reminder that tackling this issue is a shared mission. This Government will not stop until every community feels safe."