OVER 850 vehicles were seized over 18 months as part of a police crackdown on dangerous driving in Bradford.

Operation Steerside was set up by West Yorkshire Police in 2016 in response to concerns over dangerous and anti social driving in the District.

Since then there have been regular operations, and on Thursday police will give Bradford Council an update on the most recent work of the operation.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Members of Bradford Council's Corporate Scrutiny Committee will be told that last year thousands of motorists were handed warnings about their driving, with scores of arrests made.

An update of the Bradford District Safer Communities Partnership to members of the Committee will provide details on a number of issues in the district, from hate crime to domestic violence figures in Bradford.

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And members will also be given new figures on the successes of Operation Steerside.

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The report reveals that in the 18 month period from May 2018 to November 30 2019 Operation Steerside has carried out the following:

  • 141 pre-planned operations
  • 851 vehicles seized
  • 130 arrests
  • 391 motorists reported for summons
  • 390 Section59 warnings issued (if motorists with such a warning are caught a second time driving in an anti social manner, they can have their vehicle seized).
  • 2,163 Fixed Penalty Notice/Traffic Offence Report/Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme Notices issued
  • 119 no Vehicle Excise Licence

A report to the committee says: "We know that the enforcement element of Operation Steerside has been positively welcomed by our communities; however, as a partnership we recognise that enforcement alone cannot resolve or tackle the issues across the District.

"More collaborative working, utilising all our collective resource and powers to ensure that we have a comprehensive plan that not only focusses on enforcement, but also looks at the changing behaviours including working with our young people in schools and youth settings.

"Collectively with have developed a three-year partnership ambition document which sets out our aspiration and ensures the commitment from our partners to take a whole system approach for better outcomes for our communities.

"Together we aim to make the roads of Bradford Safer."

The committee will also be given an update on a new Public Space Protection Order that was approved by the Council last year.

The order will allow police and Council officers to issue penalties to motorists for a range of anti social acts including playing loud music or revving engines, shouting obscenities or harassing people from their cars, or taking part in "car cruising events."

The report says the order has now become enforceable after road signs to raise awareness of the scheme were erected across the district across December and earlier this month.

The Committee meets in City Hall at 5.30pm on Thursday.