Plain-clothed police increase patrols after yobs seen throwing missiles at cars from Northampton footbridge

“Throwing items of any kind onto the road is incredibly dangerous and we are treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves"
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Yobs chucking missiles at passing cars from a Northampton footbridge have been warned police are on their case.

Officers will be increasing their presence, including deploying plain-clothed officers, in the area following "a number reports" of kids on a bridge over Talavera Way which links Blackthorn and Overstone Park.

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And West Northamptonshire area commander Superintendent Kev Mulligan warned: "We’ve upped patrols in the area and will be deploying high-visibility as well as plain-clothed staff. This is totally unacceptable and will be resolved."

This photo shows the damage caused by a stone being dropped on to the windscreen of a car travelling at speedThis photo shows the damage caused by a stone being dropped on to the windscreen of a car travelling at speed
This photo shows the damage caused by a stone being dropped on to the windscreen of a car travelling at speed

Police have also launched an appeal for information from locals in the area and for drivers with dashcams to check their memory cards for footage.

And they posted a picture of one smashed car windscreen underlining the horror of what could happen if vehicles are hit by objects thrown from bridges.

Cars travel at up to 60mph along Talavera way and a Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: “It goes without saying that throwing stones or items of any kind off a bridge and onto the road is an incredibly dangerous thing to do.

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"We are urging parents in the area to please speak to their children and explain how dangerous this is before someone gets seriously injured, or even killed.

Yobs have been seen hurling objects as cars from thefootbridge over Talavera WayYobs have been seen hurling objects as cars from thefootbridge over Talavera Way
Yobs have been seen hurling objects as cars from thefootbridge over Talavera Way

"We would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed groups of young people throwing objects onto vehicles below. We are treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves, and would like any dashcam footage drivers may have from the time of the incidents to help us identify those involved.”

Anyone with information is urged to call the police on 101 or make contact via the Force's website, or get in touch via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

In December last year, a trucker was injured when a rock thrown from a bridge over the A45 Nene Valley Way shattered the lorry’s windscreen.

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And a 15-year-old was locked up for more than three years for manslaughter in 2008 after dropping a 44lb breeze block from the Doddington Road bridge over the A45, killing a lorry driver instantly when it hit him in the chest.