A Wiltshire car meets organiser has announced he will organise fewer underground events due to police presence.
He will instead he will focus on organising ‘legal meets’ with less interference from the authorities.
The organiser has 10,200 followers on their social media page, where pictures are posted of past events.
A statement says: “As most of you already know the police are killing off the car meets not just in Wiltshire but all around the UK and in that case we will be doing less street meets and concentrating on setting up more legal meets for everyone to be able to meet and greet in peace.”
While some replies on social media said that legal meets would be ‘great’ and ‘still be good’, other expressed frustration.
One said: “Annoying. Sadly crime such as online fraud less of a priority and find it easier instead to kill static meets done in safe way. A joke.”
Another echoed: “They should focus more on real crime rather than people just having a good time.”
The transition comes after increasing pressure from police against car meets through Operation Staysail, which started in 2022.
'Operation Staysail' begins as police crackdown on car meets across town
Police are concerned about the meets attracting antisocial behaviour, public nuisance with loud cars and music, speeding and non-roadworthy cars.
But the organiser previously told this newspaper that people do not see the positive effects his events have.
He thinks that car meets give young people a positive alternative to more dangerous gang, drug or knife crime.
He said: “We have brought so many people from gangs and violence and drug life and they have been brought into the car scene and that's all they love now.”
Increased police presence is now ‘killing it off’. He described up to 15 police cars arriving at meets with 30 or 40 officers.
When they arrive he claims that police use intimidating tactics against younger members and now look through social media to find attendees’ number plates.
A ‘legal meet’ would be one where the police and landowner give the event permission, requiring the necessary insurance and protections to be in place.
Car meets organiser explains why unofficial events are not a dangerous nuisance
The organiser has been put off from this route before by the high cost of premises and what he says is a lack of cooperation from the police.
At first there were signs of cooperation, including meetings with senior Wiltshire Police officials and planned police presence at events.
But after two events with police presence he says that cooperation broke down due to the number of complaints police received. They moved instead to shut down the events.
He said: “Everyone moans about the car meets, but when when we want to do it properly no-one is interested, no-one wants to help.”
Wiltshire Police did not respond to requests to verify these claims.
But it did provide the following statement: “Illegal car meets not only cause upset and frustration to communities and residents, but put those participating in such events, other road users, and members of the public in danger.
“This is not a question of officers ‘spoiling the fun’, but rather the police taking robust action to prevent harm, and even serious injury or worse.
“These events will not be tolerated – we cannot allow vehicles to be driven at excessive speeds or in an anti-social manner.
“We have a job to do in making the roads in Wiltshire safe for everyone, and anyone who puts that at risk will be dealt with accordingly.”
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