GARDAI PUT BRAKES ON NOISY BOY RACERS
Gardai in the Cork North Division have established an initiative aimed at curbing problems caused by boy racers and antisocial driving.
The initiative, under the direction of Chief Superintendent Kieran McGann, recognises that some young drivers are at risk due to peer pressure and other issues. Under the programme boy racers are placed in different categories through a scanning and analysing system.
From this information an appropriate response is then brought into play under the headings of prevention, information and prosecution.
Chief Superintendent McGann, who heads the north and east Cork divisions, says that the garda team put in place to do this should have a good knowledge of cars, use discretion where necessary, explore alternatives to prosecution and be aware of websites that the boy racers use and obtain vital information.
One of the alternatives to prosecution under this programme (for minor offences) is the use of consultative meetings as a means to educate drivers. These meetings, conducted at district headquarters, are of an informal nature, made up of parents with their sons or daughters, who have engaged in the behaviour.
Chief Super MGann added that the meetings have been the highlight of the initiative and that the resultant success rate has been significant. This programme was initially developed in the Mallow district and was driven locally by Inspector Senan Ryan with the assistance of Garda Dave White and Garda Liam Philips.
The initiative was further developed by Superintendent Michael Comyns and Inspector Eoghan Healy who perform continuous assessments to develop the initiative further.
Published:
Thursday 28th April 7:03pm
