Crackdown on anti-social drivers

Nearly 30 motorists have been fined or cautioned in a crackdown on nuisance drivers in Dereham town centre.

And police have vowed to continue targeting anti-social driving, especially in the Cowper Road, Crown Road, High Street, Church Street and Norwich Street areas.

It is one of three priorities for the next two months in the Dereham area agreed by the safer neighbourhood team (SNT) after a meeting with other agencies and members of the public.

The other two are continuing to deal with anti-social behaviour on part of the Hillcrest Avenue estate - especially around Pond Park, Limassol Road, Vienna Walk and Strasbourg Way - and also targeting motorbikes being used in the wooded area behind Bullock Park in Shipdham. Locals say it is especially bad on weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons.

The Community Action Group (CAG) meeting heard that calls had been reduced to anti-social behaviour on the Hillcrest estate. There have been two incidents involving adults and youths on the estate. One was dealt with by so-called restorative justice, where the offender has to repay the community.

In the second incident, three people were arrested. A 34-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl - both from the Hillcrest Avenue area - have been charged with assaulting a woman causing her actual bodily harm. Dereham SNT has worked with other agencies, including Breckland Council and local housing associations. One family which has been causing problems on the estate has been evicted and moved to another area.

The CAG meeting was told that 28 drivers had been dealt with by caution or fixed penalty notices for speeding in the town in recent weeks.

Police are confident that problems of drivers playing loud music and shouting on Cowper Road have been dealt with.

The next CAG meeting will be held at 7pm on July 15 at Breckland Council Offices.