FRESH measures to tackle joyriders and nuisance drivers who blight communities by using streets, parks, and wasteland as race tracks have been welcomed by North Yorkshire police chiefs.

Offenders face having their vehicle seized on the spot under a new police power, implemented under the Police Reform Act 2002, which comes into force tomorrow.

The measure enables officers to seize cars and motorbikes driven carelessly, inconsiderately or off-road in a manner that causes alarm, annoyance or distress to residents.

Brian Bell, Association of Chief Police Officers road policing sub-committee representative for North Yorkshire and the North East, said the new law was an important step forward.

He said: "The police service welcomes the extension of powers to allow for the seizure of motor vehicles being used as a public nuisance.

"This has been a growing problem, often compounded by the difficulties in identifying the owner or person responsible for the vehicle.

"Those that continue to use vehicles inappropriately need to know that the police will take robust action to drive such activities out."

Owners of seized vehicles will have to pay up to £357 to retrieve it, but this will be waived if they are not the driver, have not consented to the vehicle's use and could not have prevented the vehicle being driven in an anti-social manner.

Home Office Minister John Denham said: "Joyriding and the anti-social use of cars and motorbikes can blight local communities, causing misery and distress to people going about their daily lives.

"We are determined to deal with this growing problem and are giving police and community support officers radical new powers to seize vehicles being driven recklessly on roads, public footpaths, parks and housing estates.

"This will put an immediate stop to dangerous and intimidating behaviour."

Updated: 10:57 Tuesday, December 31, 2002