Four arrests as dangerous driving clampdown continues

Thursday 11 February 2021

Three vehicles have been seized and four people arrested in the past week as part of the police’s renewed clampdown on dangerous driving, which now involves undercover patrols.

Last weekend saw Officers, Honorary Police and DVS positioned in known hotspots across the island.

More than 80 vehicles were stopped as a result, in addition to:

• one vehicle being seized for defects, and referred to DVS;
• 12 Parish Hall referrals for speeding, with one driver caught doing 57mph in a 30mph zone;
• and more than 30 drivers given words of advice 

The crackdown - known as ‘Operation Canvas’ - was launched last summer after police noticed that some individuals were taking the opportunity to speed and engage in risky driving practices as a result of the quieter roads during lockdown.

At the time, there were concerns that some individuals had gone as far as altering their number plates to avoid being caught on camera.

Then last month the issue came to light once again, with scores of islanders in rural parishes complaining of loud ‘racers’ speeding late at night.

St. Martin parishioner Simon Harman told Express how he and his wife were frequently awoken at night from drivers going at “worrying” speeds along the 40mph lane outside their home.

WATCH: Two incidents were caught on Simon's home security camera - the first on 9 January, the second on 17 January.

Since then, the dedicated parish officers forming the Community Policing Team have joined the Operation Canvas effort, while covert officers have also been tasked with feeding information through.

“We know that combating anti-social driving remains a top priority for islanders, so uniformed officers are now regularly tasked to specifically work within this area of policing,” Inspector Cathy Davison, lead for Roads Policing, said.

“The fast and dangerous driving and riding of vehicles that have often been modified, is responsible for a large portion of the reports and engagement we are currently receiving across parishes. 

“Operation Canvas isn’t something that will go away; our resourcing will continue to respond to the level of the problem, using both uniformed and covert officers to target the offenders and work alongside our partners to ensure they can’t continue with their behaviour.”

Amid the clampdown, there have been concerns from local motor enthusiasts that they are being tarred with the same brush as dangerous drivers.

Pictured: Jersey Street Elites founder Steven Pacheco said that labels like 'boy racers' were unfair on the majority of car fanatics who own modified vehicles.

The group had been gearing up for a collective “slow drive” to show the public they drive safely and put the brakes on assumptions that they are all ‘boy racers’. However, the event ended up being cancelled after Police warned that it could breach covid guidelines.

CLICK HERE to report speeding or dangerous driving.