Loud exhausts in Newtown 367/2024

FOI Reference: 367/2024

Request:

Original request 35/2024 –

1. How many cars were booked in 2023 for racing loudly through Newtown (not outside the town and not on the bypass) ?
2. How many cars have been booked in Newtown for noise nuisance? How many loud exhausts have been confiscated? 

Further request -

The data you provided confirmed exactly what I had suspected --- revealing that, despite their assurances to the contrary, Newtown police are failing to do anything to stop the antisocial drivers who roar through the town at all hours.  I now wonder whether Newtown police have actually done anything at all over the entire period in which I've been in contact with them. 

Therefore I would like to know whether it is possible to obtain the same information extended over a longer timeframe, namely for the past three years --- from March 2021 to the present day --- since this is the time during which I have been striving to get Newtown police to tackle the noise-nuisance problem.  Is it a simple matter of revising the start and end dates of the previous information request, or would I have to apply for a separate request? 

Clarification:

• Q2 - I would like to know how many drivers have been booked in Newtown for creating unnecessary noise.
• I would simply like to know what actual, material penalties have been imposed upon noise-nuisance drivers in Newtown within the past year --- be it in the form of fines, the confiscation of noisy exhausts, etc..
• Being "issued with a conditional offer" is not a penalty, so no, that would not be of interest to me.
• If a fine is involved, then yes, I wish to have this information --- so, yes if they are fined £50, then I would like to know.
• And yes, I'd also like to know how many have been found guilty at court.

 

Response

I can confirm Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Number of individuals stopped by an officer for exhaust noise related offences where the location was recorded as Newtown:

1^st March 2021- 28^th February 2022 – 2

1^st March 2022- 28^th February 2023 – 6

1^st March 2023 – 29^th February 2024 – 4

8 individuals were dealt with via a conditional offer and 4 individuals were sent to court – 2 were found guilty of exhaust noise related offences.

Please note: these figures are based on the location being recorded as Newtown.  It is therefore unclear if these offences occurred inside or outside of Newtown town centre                                       

                                                           

It should be noted that as a result of the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such information that the information released may or may not be accurate.

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 11/04/2024)