A ROW has broken out between police and residents battling boy racers.
North Wales Police has said it has not had any reports of anti-social behaviour involving vehicles in the Beach Road area of Prestatyn in the last 12 months.
It comes after the death of Jonathan Sillett, aged 42, of Beach Close, who collapsed on July 21 after confronting occupants of vehicle seen driving erratically near his home.
In a police statement senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Graham Talbot said: “I am able to confirm that until this incident North Wales Police had not received any reports by the public of anti social behaviour involving vehicles in the area of Beach Road, Prestatyn, within the last 12 months.”
But The Journal this week, has received letters from two Prestatyn residents revealing the Prestatyn’s boy racer problem.
One reader wrote: “There are several areas within Prestatyn where this type of behaviour is being flaunted and it is putting children and the general public in danger.
“I have flagged patrol cars down while walking the beach area to say that they have arrived too late to catch the offenders.
“During the recent elections drivers exceeding the speed limit was one of the main complaints from residents especially in areas where there was a young family and elderly catchment.
“At the Neighbour Policing Meetings this topic is always raised so I wonder if the police are living in another town called Prestatyn or they are oblivious to these every day issues.”
Another said: “I live just off Barkby Avenue and I am appalled that North Wales Police have stated there have been no complaints regarding the speeding and anti social behaviour by boy racers from the start of Barkby Avenue and along Beach Road.
“This behaviour by our youth happens on a daily basis, I have even tried to pursue these drivers to see if I can obtain a registration number to no avail.
“I have attended the Community Neighbourhood Police meetings and can state that I have personally made complaints to the Officers at the meetings, to be told that they are aware of the boy racers within the town.”
Prestatyn Town councillor Sherry Edwards said she attended a Neighbourhood Policing meeting last March.
She said: “There were a number of issues raised with police and people did mention speeding in passing.”
A spokesman for North Wales Police said: “DCI Graham Talbot’s comments were based on the reported incidents of anti social behaviour involving vehicles in the last 12 months within that particular area of Prestatyn, which show that there have been no reports to police.
“Any concerns raised by residents will be investigated by Local Neighbourhood Policing Teams together with the Roads Policing Unit, and positive action taken against offenders.”