A FARNHAM 'boy racer' had his car seized by police after he was caught driving in an anti-social manner around the Sainsbury's car park in Water Lane. The car, which belonged to a 19-year-old from Hale, was seized by traffic officers who were carrying out patrols in and around the car park after numerous complaints. Neighbourhood specialist officer Pc Ian Heaphy explained: "I have had numerous complaints over the last year from local residents about boy racers meeting in the car park and the nearby trading estate and using it for wheel spinning and skidding. "We have worked closely with the management team at Sainsbury's to try to put a stop to the problem and the level of complaints did fall significantly after a number of youths were banned from meeting in the vicinity of the store last year." Pc Heaphy, whose area includes Weybourne, Badshot Lea and Runfold, continued: "The man whose car was seized has had warnings in the past about driving in an anti-social manner and was issued with a yellow card for anti-social use of a motor vehicle last year. "Once someone has been warned, we are entitled to seize the vehicle – and we have not hesitated in this instance to do so in order to drive home the message that anti-social behaviour on the roads will not be tolerated." Surrey Police has been targeting anti-social behaviour on the county's roads since the launch of the Surrey Road Standards campaign last year. Offenders are issued with a yellow card in the first instance, but if they re-offend they will get a red card, which means they could be arrested and taken to court – and may even have their vehicle seized. Under the Surrey Road Standards, anti-social behaviour covers such matters as using a motor vehicle to cause excessive noise, whether from squealing tyres or loud CD players; threatening or insulting behaviour by vehicle occupants; carrying out wheelies and handbrake turns; cycling on footpaths and illegal riding of mopeds, scooters or mini motorbikes. Inspector Rick Lawn of the Surrey Police strategic roads unit said: "Offenders can be assured that Surrey Police will be taking a robust approach. We will be using the idea of yellow and red football cards to warn them that they potentially face summons, arrest and having their vehicle seized if they continue with their anti-social behaviour."
