A PLAN for a fresh crackdown on anti-social driving across the Bradford district - the first of its kind in Yorkshire - will be discussed by councillors.

In an unusual move, Bradford Council is looking to begin the process of introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle the blight of nuisance drivers and vehicles.

The type of behaviour to be targeted through the PSPO includes excessive noise, drifting, shouting, swearing, congregating in a group around vehicles, and intimidation including through use of sexual language.

Such an order, aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour caused by people drinking alcohol or using so-called legal highs, is already in place for a large part of central Bradford.

Now plans are afoot to try and bring an end to the misery caused by yobbish drivers of cars, quads and motorbikes. The PSPO would provide new powers to issue Community Protection Notices, seek Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions and apply for Criminal Behaviour Orders

A report to councillors, which will go before the Regulatory and Appeals Committee meeting on Thursday, says the Council wants to begin a public consultation with a view to bringing the order in. It says the terms would include the prohibition of: “Engaging in, promoting, encouraging or assisting in the carrying out of any car cruising event in or on a public highway, car park and any other land to which the public has access in the Bradford Metropolitan District area and which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.”

The report says this includes excessive noise, danger to other road users, including pedestrians, damage or risk of damage to private property, shouting or swearing at, or abusing, threatening or otherwise intimidating - including by the use of sexual language or making sexual suggestions - another person, or any public nuisance to another person.

It would also prohibit: “Congregating or loitering as part of a group around (or in) one or more stationary vehicles at any time where such activity causes or is likely to cause noise, harassment, alarm or distress.

“Engaging in, promoting, encouraging or assisting in activities of, drifting or other vehicle related nuisance causing or likely to cause danger to the public

“Causing or permitting excessive amplified music or other noise from vehicles such as to cause or be likely to cause alarm, harassment, distress as a result of a gathering in or around one or more vehicles on any public road or land to which the public has access in Bradford.”

Bradford’s problems with anti-social driving are well documented and the report says the PSPO will improve enforcement powers, with the intention of authorising West Yorkshire Police to enforce any breaches.

The report adds that other local authorities have “experienced positive outcomes” using this legislation for this type of behaviour.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “Dangerous, inconsiderate and anti-social use of a vehicle can have a significant effect on how safe people feel in the district. Any action we can take to improve this situation and increase community safety and improve the reputation of the district will be of benefit to residents, visitors and businesses.”

Councillor John Pennington, Conservative Group Leader at Bradford Council, said he welcomes new measures.

He said “society seems to be collapsing” and pointed to youngsters who “seem to have no respect for anybody or anything”.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said she was pleased to see the Council is taking the issue seriously, but called for a clearer explanation of areas included.

She added: “The police struggle due to the rules they have around pursuing people on quad bikes what difference would a public space protection make to actually catching these individuals who already break the laws governing behaviour on the roads? Given that the riders of nuisance bikes are already breaking the law one has to ask if this is just window-dressing?”

A spokesperson for road safety charity Brake said: "Misuse of a motor vehicle can have potentially devastating consequences. Any measures to prevent danger to other roads users, including pedestrians, from people behaving dangerously behind the wheel of a car, are welcome.”

Research submitted to support the plans shows there has been a slight increase in the number of police-recorded incidents involving nuisance cars and vans, going from 863 in the year up to March 31, 2017, to 866 in the year up to the same date this year.

The report says there is a peak in incidents between 7pm and 10pm. Keighley Central ward is recorded as having the highest number of reports for the year “due to a high number of repeat calls from residents of Shann Avenue”.

However, police-recorded incidents involving nuisance motorbikes and quadbikes has fallen from 2,250 from 2016-17 to 1,933 in 2017-18.

So-called ‘hotspot’ areas include Rookwith Parade, Roundwood Glen, Leeds Road, Broadstone Way, Harrogate Road, Ravenscliffe Avenue and Great Horton Road.

The number of police recorded road-related offence incidents has increased by 23 per cent, jumping from 3,492 in the year up to March 31, 2017, to 4,302 in the year up to the same date this year. Great Horton Road, Manchester Road, Ingleby Road, Nelson Street and Thornton Road are identified in the report as particular hotspots. Meanwhile Operation Steerside has seen nearly 13,000 drivers stopped since its launch in 2016.