North Coast Easter crackdown sees nine arrests, 21 vehicles seized and 560 speeding detections
- Love Ballymena
- 4 minutes ago
- 5 min read
A major policing operation across the North Coast over the bank holiday period resulted in nine arrests, 21 vehicles seized for dangerous defects and 560 speeding detections, as police moved to tackle traffic disruption, anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving in one of Northern Ireland’s busiest visitor hotspots.
The extensive operation, led by police in Causeway Coast and Glens District, ran throughout the holiday weekend amid heightened concerns around road safety, excessive noise, illegal car modifications and disorder in the area.
The scale of the intervention underlines the pressure placed on coastal towns during peak holiday periods, with residents, businesses and visitors all affected by congestion and public safety concerns.
Extensive police response across North Coast towns
Police said the operation was carried out in response to a number of community concerns reported over the bank holiday period.
These included traffic disruption, anti-social behaviour, excessive noise, dangerous driving and illegal vehicle modifications, all of which have become recurring issues during busy seasonal weekends in North Coast towns.
Causeway Coast and Glens District Commander, Superintendent Yvonne McManus, said officers had been working closely with local communities and partner agencies both in the lead-up to Easter and throughout the holiday weekend itself.
She said:
“We received and responded to a number of concerns in relation to reports of traffic disruption, anti-social behaviour, excessive noise and dangerous driving, as well as illegal car modifications.
“Thank you to all of our partners for their assistance with keeping those who visited the area safe – this was a very busy period for everyone involved.
“We do recognise that some disruption was caused during this time – and we thank local residents and businesses for their patience and understanding.”
The comments reflect the balancing act facing police and local authorities in managing large visitor numbers while minimising disruption for those living and working in the area.
Nine arrests and dozens of alcohol seizures
Police confirmed that nine people were arrested over the course of the bank holiday weekend.
The arrests related to a range of offences, including disorderly behaviour, excess alcohol and possession of an offensive weapon.
In addition, officers carried out 54 alcohol seizures across the area.
Superintendent McManus said:
“Over the course of the bank holiday weekend nine people were arrested for offences ranging from disorderly behaviour, excess alcohol and possession of an offensive weapon. We also had fifty-four alcohol seizures in the area.”
The figures point to a significant enforcement presence across the holiday period as police sought to maintain public order during one of the busiest weekends of the spring calendar.
Major traffic enforcement operation launched
Road safety formed a major strand of the policing response.
Police issued 34 endorsable tickets and 179 non-endorsable tickets to road users during the operation, highlighting the volume of motoring offences detected.
Roads Policing Interceptors stopped the below vehicle this morning in the area of the Ballybogy Road. Following checks of the driver on Police Systems it was established he was disqualified from driving and did not have insurance for the vehicle. The vehicle has been seized and the driver will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service.
In a further targeted intervention, a vehicle safety operation was launched in conjunction with the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA).
That operation saw 47 vehicles examined.
Of those:
2 were released with no faults identified
21 were seized for being in a dangerous condition
24 drivers were issued with fixed penalty notices for vehicle defects
Police also revealed that one of the drivers issued with a fixed penalty notice had previously been disqualified from driving.
Superintendent McManus said:
“In line with last year, a vehicle safety operation was also launched in conjunction with the DVA.
“While some individuals were responsible, engaging with our officers, the behaviour of minority created safety risks, which is not representative of responsible car enthusiasts.
“Forty-seven vehicles were examined, with two released with nothing wrong noted, and 21 seized for being in a dangerous condition.
“Twenty-four drivers were also issued with fixed penalty notices for defects to their vehicles. A driver of one of these vehicles was also noted to have been previously disqualified.”
The comments appear aimed at distinguishing between responsible motoring enthusiasts and a smaller number of drivers whose behaviour created risks for the wider public.
Insurance offences, breath tests and speed camera detections
Police also detected a number of serious road traffic offences beyond vehicle defects.
Officers found that four drivers had no insurance.
Meanwhile, 26 Preliminary Breath Tests (PBTs) were conducted as part of the enforcement activity.
Safety Camera Vans were also deployed at multiple locations across the North Coast, leading to 560 detections for excess speed.
That figure is among the most striking outcomes of the operation and points to significant speeding concerns during the holiday period.
The District Commander said:
“In addition, Safety Camera Vans were deployed at locations across the North Coast, and there were 560 detections for excess speed.”
She also used the update to reiterate road safety messaging around the so-called Fatal Five causes of serious collisions and fatalities.
“Speeding is one of the Fatal Five: slow down and do not exceed the posted speed limit and drive appropriate to the road conditions; don’t drink or take drugs and drive, don’t be careless; always wear your seat belt and never use your mobile phone or any device that distracts you while driving.”
Residents and businesses to be invited to public meeting
In response to ongoing community concerns, police have confirmed that a public meeting will take place in due course for residents and business owners.
The meeting is intended to allow concerns to be raised directly and for future actions to be discussed.
Superintendent McManus said:
“In the run up to the Easter period we conducted extensive engagement with the local community, as well as road safety operations in the North Coast.
“We are here to listen to your concerns – and a public meeting will now take place in due course for residents and business owners so their concerns can be appropriately addressed and actioned.”
This next phase of engagement suggests the policing response will continue beyond the holiday weekend, with planning already underway for future busy periods.
Review under way ahead of future holiday periods
Police have now confirmed that the full bank holiday operation will be formally reviewed.
The findings will help shape future planning for busy weekends and seasonal visitor surges across the North Coast.
Superintendent McManus said:
“We will now take time to review the weekend’s policing operation and continue our engagement with partner agencies, residents and local businesses.
“This will help us inform planning and implement other measures that we can potentially use for future busy holiday periods in the North Coast. We want the area to be a safe space that everyone can enjoy peacefully and safely.”
The review is expected to feed into future policing and traffic management measures for upcoming holiday weekends and the summer tourism season.
At a glance
Police carried out an extensive bank holiday safety operation across the North Coast
9 people arrested for offences including disorderly behaviour and weapon possession
54 alcohol seizures recorded
34 endorsable and 179 non-endorsable tickets issued
47 vehicles examined with DVA support
21 vehicles seized for dangerous defects
24 drivers fined for vehicle defects
4 drivers found with no insurance
26 roadside breath tests carried out
560 speeding detections recorded by Safety Camera Vans
Public meeting planned for residents and business owners
Full review of the operation now under way