CCTV installed at Crawley park following complaints about anti-social driving

BBC News reports that Crawley Borough Council, working with Sussex Police, installed the camera in Tilgate Park’s main car park at the end of July.

The camera will record vehicle number plates, helping the authorities identify people suspected of being involved in anti-social driving and providing evidence that could support enforcement action.

Residents living nearby have described problems with speeding vehicles, excessive engine noise and loud music, particularly during the evening and overnight.

One resident told the BBC that while the area was “lovely during the day”, conditions could be very different at night, with cars allegedly travelling at high speeds and drivers revving their engines.

She described vehicles as treating the area “like a racetrack” and said the disturbance regularly woke her during the night.

Other residents told the BBC that nuisance involving cars and motorbikes was not confined to the park, with concerns also raised about vehicles racing along the A264 and elsewhere in Crawley.

The introduction of CCTV demonstrates how reports from residents can help authorities identify persistent anti-social behaviour and introduce targeted measures in response.

Councillor Chris Mullins, Crawley Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure and wellbeing, said the council hoped the cameras would act as a deterrent while reassuring residents that their concerns were being taken seriously.

Sussex Police said the initiative brought together community feedback, local policing knowledge and council resources, with the aim of reducing nuisance behaviour and improving conditions for both park visitors and nearby residents.

Anti-social driving can have a significant impact on a community. Excessive revving, racing, dangerous driving and repeated late-night disturbance can affect people well beyond the road or car park where the behaviour takes place.

Building an accurate picture of where incidents happen, when they happen and how frequently they occur can help demonstrate the scale and persistence of a problem.

Is anti-social driving affecting where you live?

If speeding, racing, engine noise or other persistent vehicle-related anti-social behaviour is affecting your community, report it.

FixASB helps residents record recurring problems, document their impact and build a clearer picture of what is happening locally.

Report anti-social behaviour with FixASB and add your voice to the case for action