Section 59 Vehicle Seizure Powers For Ant Social Vehicle Use

*** New Section 59 legislation ***

Immediate Vehicle Seizure Powers for Anti-Social Vehicle Use

Under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002, as amended by the Crime and Policing Act 2026, police now have the power to seize a vehicle immediately without first issuing a warning, where the legal grounds are met.

A vehicle may be seized if:

A police officer in uniform has reasonable grounds to believe the vehicle is being used:

• Carelessly or inconsiderately (Section 3 Road Traffic Act 1988), or
• Unlawfully off-road (Section 34 Road Traffic Act 1988),

and

• The manner of driving is causing, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress, or annoyance to members of the public.

Examples of anti-social vehicle use

These powers may apply to vehicles involved in:

• Street racing
• Donuts in car parks
• Wheel spinning or drifting
• Excessive revving causing nuisance to residents
• Aggressive acceleration through residential areas
• Anti-social car cruises
• Motorbikes, cars or quad bikes being driven on parks, playing fields, footpaths or common land
• High-performance vehicles, including supercars, being driven carelessly or inconsiderately in a manner that causes alarm, distress or annoyance

Powers available to police

Police may:

• Require the vehicle to stop
• Seize and remove the vehicle
• Enter premises (excluding private dwellings) where the vehicle is believed to be located for the purpose of seizure
• Use reasonable force where lawful and necessary to exercise these powers

The message is clear: anti-social vehicle use can now result in the immediate seizure of a vehicle, without any prior warning, where the legal criteria are satisfied. 

Thank you for your continued support. 

Chadderton Neighbourhood Policing Team.