YORK’S “noise patrol” is using a silent electric car to tackle nuisance neighbours.

City of York Council’s night-time, weekend patrol – operated by the environmental protection unit (EPU) – is now using an electric car following last year’s successful trial of the vehicles.

It is the first permanent electric car to be run by the council.

In addition to the electric car, the EPU is also using computer tablets on the noise patrol. The tablets give access to all the information held on the EPU’s databases, which means officers can respond more quickly and accurately to reports of excessive or antisocial noise.

Coun Dafydd Williams, the council’s cabinet member for crime and safer communities, said: “The electric car is perfect for dealing with noise complaints as it is nearly silent itself. With its 109-mile range it is just the thing for driving around York, and at a cost of only 2p per mile it is far cheaper than our previous diesel vans and petrol cars.”