PSNI praised by Mickey Cooper for taking action against 'boy racers' in Derry

Sinn Féin Councillor Mickey Cooper said motorists were gathering late at night in a car park adjacent to retail premises.

Car parks in the area - between the Rock Road and the Pennyburn roundabout - have been the site of problems in the past.

Colr. Cooper said: “I received a number of complaints about boy racers gathering again at this car park on a nightly basis which is causing problems for residents of nearby apartments due to the noise from revving cars and cars driving up and down the Strand Road.

“To try and get a resolution to this I contacted the PSNI. They have assured me they have visited the area on several occasions in recent days and engaged with a number of drivers by way of providing advice and guidance as well as taking enforcement action in the form of Fixed Penalty Notices.

"This saw many of the vehicles leave the area."

'Boy racers' have been known to gather in the area in the past much to the annoyance of local residents who have had to put up with the noisy modified exhausts and irresponsible use of the roadways late at night.

“This is a recurring problem in the area and it's clear a multi-agency approach is needed to try and reduce these incidents as best we can. I have received assurances that such an approach will be taken in the coming weeks and months to ensure the problems of the past do not repeat themselves," said the Foyleside representative.