POLICE in Saffron Walden exercised new powers for the first time on Saturday, when they seized the vehicle of a youth who was driving in an antisocial manner. At 10pm on Saturday, a Volkswagen Golf was confiscated from a 17-year-old male in Ashdon Road. A

POLICE in Saffron Walden exercised new powers for the first time on Saturday, when they seized the vehicle of a youth who was driving in an antisocial manner.

At 10pm on Saturday, a Volkswagen Golf was confiscated from a 17-year-old male in Ashdon Road.

Another 17-year-old was warned about the way he was riding his motorcycle.

The driver and the motorbiker had revved their engines excessively, and raced each other and drove close to other road users.

A police spokesman said: "This is in relation to The Police Reform Act 2002. It allows the police to give warnings to drivers who are driving in a careless or inconsiderate manner, or driving in a manner, which is causing, has been causing or is likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.

"If the driving continues, we then have the power to seize the vehicle."

The cost of retrieving the vehicle for the youth will be £105, plus £12-per-day storage costs, plus VAT.

The spokesman said: "Using a vehicle in an anti-social manner will not be tolerated in Saffron Walden and this is a clear message.