Tackling disruption linked to pony and trap racing

Last weekend saw a significant operation by Thames Valley Police to enforce a dispersal order on the A413 and neighbouring roads around Chalfont St Peter and Gerrard’s Cross. This large police presence prevented an expected large event that could have seen hundreds, or even thousands gather for pony and trap racing. Yet a long term solution needs to be found by working with local councils.

The local community in South Buckinghamshire have suffered from disruption for pony and trap racing on the A413 for many years. Yet many people do not realise that racing horses on the highway is not illegal. Racing motor vehicles is prohibited by the Road Traffic Act 1988, and cycle races are regulated, but racing horses is not. Nevertheless the racing has often lead to disruption to traffic, antisocial behaviour, and intimidation to local residents.

Ahead of last weekend there was intelligence of a sizeable gathering expected. Given the scale of the numbers expected, the determination of the organisers to go ahead and the history of disruption Thames Valley Police were justified in imposing a temporary dispersal order on Saturday and Sunday to prevent the A413 being used for racing and spectators gathering nearby.

In order to enforce this dispersal order a significant operation was put in place, with officers on scene from the early hours of Saturday morning. I met officers on the ground before dawn where several hundred race participants and spectators were already gathering. Thanks to the dispersal order and the large police presence this crowd was dispersed and the weekend passed peacefully.

Some residents have even asked if talk of the racing last weekend was merely a rumour. Whilst the scale of the event may have been maliciously exaggerated by some (talk of up to 7,000 people!) it is clear that decisive police action prevented a large and disruptive gathering from taking place.

It was almost inevitable that given the police presence in South Buckinghamshire the racing would be displaced elsewhere. Indeed some racing did take place on Saturday and Sunday in Oxfordshire on the A40 near Minster Lovell. Although local residents in Oxfordshire raised concerns, the number attending were significantly reduced and the disruption was minimal, resulting in some slow traffic at times. As already stated racing horses on the highway is not an offence and so this could not specifically be prevented by the police. One vehicle was seized and two individuals were reported for other traffic offences at the gathering in Oxfordshire.

I have written to the Department of Transport and both of the local MPs for the areas affected asking them to consider a change in legislation to prohibit pony and trap racing on public roads. Of course this would not necessarily stop all racing, but could require - similar to cycle racing - organisers to meet certain conditions and to seek permission from the local authority and the police to ensure that events were well managed and caused minimal disruption. This would give the police direct powers to tackle unauthorised racing - whereas currently they have to wait for other specific offences - dangerous driving, public order offences etc, to be committed before they can act.

Dealing with an event once it has started is also more challenging, both for the safety of police officers but also for the animals involved. Therefore early action such as we saw last weekend is much more effective at dealing with local concerns.

This recent operation though was costly; both in terms of people and resources. Thames Valley Police cannot mount such intense operations on a regular basis without seriously damaging the day to day policing on which we all rely. Many dozens of officers were on duty along with specialist units, and this cannot be regularly repeated. Instead a long term solution is required.

As well as calling on our local MPs to support a change in legislation I am committed to working closely with Buckinghamshire Council - and other highways authorities where this is an issue - to try to make the specific location less attractive for racing. Elsewhere in the country, physical changes to the road layout have helped to prevent such unauthorised racing taking place. This along with some continued enforcement by Thames Valley Police can help to reduce the impact on residents and address what has been a long running concern for the community.