 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Joint operations snare illegal racers
 Pre-flight check: Officers of the NTN T special team to tackle illegal racing get a briefing from a GFS officer at Chek Lap Kok |
Magistrates are getting bird's-eye views of the antics of 'boy racers' terrorising our roads, under tough new enforcement operations by New Territories North Traffic.
The formation has assembled a team of specially-trained officers to catch foolish drivers trying to use public roads as a speedway.
The team are further developing their skills in anti-road racing procedures and getting familiar with new equipment designed to capture solid evidence of racing activity and bringing the dangerous drivers to justice.
The team also uses hi-tech surveillance equipment aboard Government Flying Service helicopters for capturing evidence of racing activity from the skies.
Heading the team, Inspector Jim Gray of NTN Traffic (Enforcement and Control) said special training was essential for the task force due to the high-speed offenders they may encounter during an operation.
 IP Jim Gray tests the 'Stinger' tyre trap |
The team comprises of specialist drivers and operators of aerial and ground-level infra-red, video and laser tracking equipment, using tried and tested tactics. There were also unmarked police cars with video systems. IP Gray said the team was set up after several recent serious accidents in the Region which were believed to have involved illegal racing.
"With the helicopter we can follow racing vehicles wherever they go and deploy ground officers to intercept them.
"We use the laser Digi-cam equipment to get a clear shot of their number plates and gather strong video evidence from the sky.
"The air offers a good view of all the manoeuvres these drivers use when racing, such as multiple overtaking, which are factors a Magistrate will take into account," IP Gray said.
"And the really big advantage is that high-speed pursuits are totally avoided. With the helicopter, speeding drivers don't even know they are being watched until they are safely slowed and stopped by police using special tactics."
The airborne infra-red equipment offers clear images along with a running commentary of the illegal activities, locations and car models, from an officer aboard the helicopter.
 In sight: NTN T officers warm up the laser Digi-cam system |
The 'eye in the sky' has already proven highly effective in two operations in December conducted by NTN T's Task Force East, with 10 people arrested.
"We have a good relationship with GFS and they've done a top job for us so far.
"We are hoping to continue this and conduct further operations in future to keep these racers off the roads," IP Gray said.
"Generally, these culprits are just boy racers, but we suspect there may sometimes also be gambling syndicates involved.
"Road racing comes and goes in waves. Once we conduct an operation they tend to move somewhere else to race and use several other tricks to try and evade Police," he added.
"However, we have our own tactics and do a lot of intelligence gathering. Road racing is deadly and these operations make our roads safer."
<< Back to Index >>