BOY racers are causing havoc in Peebles and locals are demanding that the police do more to tackle the issue.

At last week’s community council meeting, councillors shared their experiences with the reckless drivers.

They raised numerous concerns from the revving of noisy engines and blaring music late at night, to using the town’s streets as a ‘race track’ and tearing dangerously down 30mph roads.

A resident of Glesax Road was at the meeting and voiced his anger to attending police officer PC Diane Sorrell.

“The drivers sit there revving their engines and blasting music for three to four hours every night,” he said. “They keep me awake until all hours.

“They use Kingsmeadows car park and Glensax Road as a race track. It’s actually terrifying when you’re walking along late at night and they come tearing up the road.

“I have phoned countless times but nothing has been done about it. They’re still there every night.

“The problem is that the police are too obvious – as soon as a police car arrives or a police officer walks by, all the boy racers phone each other and it quietens down.

“Wouldn’t it be more effective to use an unmarked car to catch them?”

Community Councillors pointed out that boy racers have been an issue as far back as 2009. They asked why, seven years later, the problem remains as prominent as ever. 

“We do get lots of complaints about boy racers in the town and try our best to tackle the problem,” explained PC Sorrell.

“Unmarked cars have patrolled the area and drivers have been given Antisocial Behaviour Orders on their vehicle.

“Unfortunately they do often see us coming and we can only reprimand someone if we catch them in the act. We know how serious and issue this is and are trying our best to resolve it.

“All we can ask is that people take a note of the number plates and report the issue to us.”

Where appropriate, police issue antisocial behaviour warnings to offenders and if that person commits further instances of antisocial driving within the following 12 months, their vehicle is seized.

Chief Inspector Andrew McLean, Local Area Commander for the Scottish Borders, added: “We are continually educating young motorists regarding driving and hazard awareness and where necessary enforcing road traffic legislation.

“I can reassure the local community that we take a zero tolerance approach towards anyone who is found to drive in a reckless or dangerous manner and we will always act on information that is passed to us. 

“There has been a significant amount of work carried out in this regard over many years by local and road policing officers and we are committed to continuing with this effort.

“I would encourage anyone who wishes to report any driving offence to contact police on 101.”