There were reports that the boy racers would be back last night 14th March
Some did turn up but because they couldn't get into the car park they had to go elsewhere. The word was that they had reorganised the meet at Royston Tesco.
Well done to Morrisons for preventing them from returning
They had a bigger barrier with a security guard
3RD MARCH 2004 MORRISONS SECURITY REPORTED NO TROUBLE TONIGHT (9-30 PM),
THEY MANNED THE ENTRANCE AND BLOCKED OFF HALF THE CAR PARK WITH PALLETS
THERE WERE REPORTED SIGHTINGS NEARBY BUT SAW NOTHING HERE
NOTICES ISSUED
LAST NIGHT AFTER RECEIVING A NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS, I WENT TO HAVE A LOOK AT MORRISONS CAR PARK.
SEVERAL DOZEN CARS WERE ASSEMBLED AND WERE GIVING DISPLAYS OF THEIR DRIVING "SKILLS"
ONE CALL FROM A RESIDENT INFORMED ME THAT POLICE CONTROL HAD CLAIMED THAT MORRISONS HAD GIVEN PERMISSION, I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD GIVE PERMISSION BUT NO DOUBT YOU WILL MAKE YOUR VIEWS KNOWN TO THE MANAGER KEVIN GILBERT.
I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE SAME CALLER THAT THE POLICE HAD HAD A HUNDRED CALLS OF COMPLAINT, ANOTHER CALLER SAID THAT THE POLICE WERE ATTENDING TO TAKE THE CARS REGISTRATION NUMBERS.
THE POLICE CONTROLLER OBJECTED TO THE 999 CALLS AS PRESUMABLY THEY DID NOT CONSIDER THIS "AN EMERGENCY".
I have received complaints from residents in Great Cambourne about last night’s incidents, which comes as no surprise!!!!! This morning I have spoken at length with Cambridgeshire Police Resources Unit and have been able to ascertain the following information.
It appears that the first cars arrived around 2000 hrs and according to Police estimates at the height of the ‘racing’ there were upwards of 300 people present. Of the attending vehicles some 30 registration numbers were obtained and those drivers/owners will be contacted at their home address with a banning order relating to Cambourne and if they are seen in this area again the car can be confiscated. To affect the return of the car the owner has to pay £500!!! As our roads are unadopted there are difficulties in getting a ‘good’ case for some minor road traffic offences.
I was told by one of the complainants last night that the Night manager at Morrison’s condoned the activities of the Boy Racers, when asked the Police, in their car park. This was also confirmed by one of the attending Police Officers in his incident report. Having spoken to Mr. Jarrald the duty manager at Morrison’s today he assures me that no such activity was condoned by any member of the night staff and that my complainant and the police are wrong. Morrison’s had to close the Petrol Station early and for a time a police vehicle was parked in that area to minimize/deter vandalism. There is CCTV footage of the Car Park, I guess available to the Police if required. A flyer was found in the car park indicated that there will be another evening’s activity in Cambourne at a future date and this has been handed to the Police. I believe the Police intend to have a presence in Cambourne next Sunday evening to deter any further activity along the lines of last night.
We are, unfortunately, the victim of the closure – with barriers – of the Cambridge Park and Ride Car Parks as this is where previous events have taken place. The ‘racers’ attending last night are not necessary Cambridge people but could have traveled from Essex and Suffolk and even further to attend last night’s event.
Howard Fall, CRA chairman
From Chris Bradley, our Community Beat Officer
Roger,
I have had a look at the messages about this and there were a lot of calls. The Police did attend and the cars left. It looks like some returned afterwards. From what I can gather the manager did not give permission. I will call and see him today and perhaps have a look at the video.
As I said before it is a problem around the area not just Cambourne.
Regards
Chris
Chris.Bradley@cambs.pnn.police.uk
We have reports that another meet is scheduled for Wednesday 3rd March.
