A Welsh police force has spent almost £40,000 on four tuk-tuks which it claims will help officers fight crime.

Gwent Police revealed this month that it was rolling out the three-wheeled vehicles to patrol parks and other public spaces in Newport and Abergavenny in south-east Wales.

The rickshaw-style cars, known for their use as taxis primarily in Asian countries, will be deployed as “safe spaces” where people can report incidents and seek help if they are feeling unsafe.

The tuk-tuks were bought for £9,936 each, or a total of £39,744, according to a BBC Wales Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

A previous figure obtained through an FOI priced them at £16,974 each, just under £70,000 in total, but the force said that amount was incorrect.

The fleet was paid for by the Home Office from their Safer Streets programme, a fund aimed at tackling specific safety and crime prevention issues.

Officers and some Newport City Council employees will be able to drive the tuk-tuks in the day and night.

Their speed has been limited to 55 kilometres per hour, or just under 35 miles per hour.

Chief Inspector Damian Sowrey said members of the public have had the opportunity to see the tuk-tuks and the feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive”.

“They were on show at our Behind the Badge day, giving local residents the opportunity to see them up close and to hear more about how they will be used,” Mr Sowrey said.

“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive with parents telling officers that they would feel safer knowing that there was support for young people out at night, and from women who could think of an occasion when the tuk-tuk would have been a welcome sight.”

Mahindra Electric, which provided the “e-autos”, announced their involvement in the initiative on Twitter, writing: “Autos have been used as public transportation but Gwent police has different plans for them.

“We’re proud to be a part of such a noble initiative.”

There has been some criticism of the fleet online, with one user saying it will turn the force into a “laughing stock”.

Others suggested the vehicles could be easily pushed over, or stolen and set alight by criminals.

One of the UK’s biggest EV charging providers has announced a reduction to its prices in response to the ongoing-cost-of-living crisis.

Osprey Charging says it will be cutting its prices to 79p per kilowatt hour (kWh) thanks to help from the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme.

The change will come into effect on November 1, after the firm was previously forced to up prices up to a maximum of £1 per kWh due to the rising cost of energy.

Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging said: “The team at Osprey has been working diligently throughout October with our energy supplier to get clarity on the government support to reduce the price burden on EV drivers.

“We have now achieved this reduction and are fulfilling the promise we made last month and passing on a saving to our customers immediately.

“We would like to thank all of our customers for their patience during these difficult times and understand that if drivers are to make the switch to electric, they need cheap, reliable charging points all over the UK.

“Our focus continues to be on building an EV charging infrastructure for the future that is accessible and safe for all.

“Over the next two years we will invest over £50m expanding our nation-wide public charging network, establishing the much-needed national infrastructure that all drivers can trust and rely on.”

The price that EV drivers pay at the charger comprises several aspects including the cost of electricity, the cost of installing infrastructure and the operation and maintenance of the charging network. There is also a 20 per cent VAT applied to public charging.

In addition, energy suppliers add on non-commodity costs, their own running costs and margin on top of wholesale electricity, to determine the price that businesses like Osprey pay.

The Tesla Model Y has become Europe’s best-selling new car for the very first time as EV sales continue to soar across the continent.

The luxury model shifted 29,367 units in the ninth month of the year, placing it well clear of the second-placed Peugeot 208 which sold just 19,601.

The incredible performance represents a 227 per cent rise for the Model Y with the SUV accounting for close to three in every 100 new cars registered in Europe last month.

It was a strong month for electrified models across the board, with the likes of the Tesla Model 3, Volkswagen ID.4 and the Fiat 500 Electric also seeing huge hikes.

Overall there were 160,869 BEVs registered in September with volume increasing by 15 per cent. They accounted for 15.6 per cent of all registrations – the second-largest monthly market share after December 2021.

Excluding Tesla, MG was among the top 10 brands with the highest percentage of BEVs as part of total registrations at 42 per cent. Renault followed with 18 per cent.

There was also increased demand for plug-in hybrids – of which the Ford Kuga was the most popular with 5,049 registrations, followed by the Kia Niro and Kia Sportage.

The volume of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles increased by seven per cent compared to September 2021with 87,712 registered units.

The data was collected by automotive market researchers Jato Dynamics, which put the increased market share for EVs down to falling production figures elsewhere.

Felipe Munoz, a global analyst with the company, said: “The market lost one million units per quarter over the last three years.

“While a catastrophe in terms of volume relative to production capacity, the majority of OEMs have now properly adapted to this new reality.”

More than 900,000 drivers risk a £1,000 fine after failing to renew photocard licences which expired in the past year, an investigation has found.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) figures obtained by the PA news agency following a Freedom of Information request, show 926,000 people entitled to drive in Britain held cards on September 3 which became out of date in the 12 months to the end of August.

That represents 2% of all drivers.

A small proportion of the 926,000 are likely to have stopped driving without notifying the DVLA.

Some 2.5 million drivers renewed their photocard after it had expired or within 56 days of the expiry date in the past year.

Driving entitlement normally remains until someone reaches 70, after which they must renew their licence every three years to stay on the road.

But Photocards must be renewed every 10 years to ensure the image is a true likeness of the driver.

Expiry dates are displayed in section 4b on the front of cards.

Failing to return an expired licence to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and can be punished with a fine of up to £1,000.

The DVLA says it writes to people 56 days before their licence ends to remind them to renew, but many drivers miss the letters as they do not update the agency when their address changes.

Renewing late does not lead to a fine being issued.

If a licence expires while the DVLA is processing a renewal application, the person can continue to drive as long as they meet criteria such as following the rules of their previous licence.

After a photocard is surrendered, someone who drives without renewing their licence could be prosecuted for driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.

Philip Gomm of the RAC Foundation said: “There are good reasons to keep licences up to date, beyond the basic legal requirement.

“They are also a widely accepted form of ID and will certainly be required if you are ever stopped by police.

“Renewal also provides an opportunity for people to assess whether they are still fit to drive, and we think there is an argument for linking a compulsory eye test to the process to make sure we all remain safe on the road, though Government should help keep costs as low as possible for motorists.

“When you do renew beware of private web sites which offer to help with the application but charge an extra fee for doing so.”

The DVLA advises people to renew on its official website as it is the quickest and cheapest method.

Applications cost £14 and are usually processed within five days.

Third party websites charge additional fees.

Postal renewals cost £17, while doing it at a Post Office has a £21.50 fee.

A DVLA spokeswoman said: “We encourage customers to use GOV.UK as applying online is the quickest and cheapest way to renew their photocard driving licence.

“If you stop driving altogether, you should inform DVLA and return your licence rather keeping it as a form of out of date photo ID.”

Drivers are increasingly using their smartphones and social media to help with their next car purchase, a new survey has revealed.

Research from the CarGurus UK Buyer Insight Report – which analysis the car-buying journey of over 1,500 drivers – found that the use of mobile phones while on the forecourt has risen by 12 per cent to 71 per cent, up from 59 per cent in 2020.

Buyers are even using their phones to check vehicle details and specs and read reviews when conversing with dealers.

In addition, seven-in-10 drivers are checking social media to inform their car buying choice, while 21 per cent say that social media ‘directly impacts’ their car purchase, up from 16 per cent a year ago.

Alexandra Howerter, senior consumer insights analyst at CarGurus, said: “Smartphones are helping consumers become savvier when looking to buy, allowing them to come armed with all the data and hold their own in negotiations. This levels the playing field and alleviates some of the stress and anxiety around buying a car.

“Social media is also a great way to learn more about the car you want to buy, however, consumers must also be cautious about which sources they choose to trust. At CarGurus we’ve developed a unique data-driven approach that calculates an Instant Market Value (IMV), which reflects the market value of a vehicle in the current market. This helps consumers to take the stress out of buying and negotiating, so they can be confident they have the best deal.”

The number of people using instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp as the first point of contact with dealers had almost doubled, rising from five per cent in 2020 to nine per cent in 2022. Buyers are also more likely to contact dealers online ahead of visiting the forecourt in-person, with 42 per cent of people aged 24 to 32 getting in touch with a dealership online first.

Sophisticated criminals are targeting London used car buyers with adverts for cheap used cars, a Car Dealer Magazine investigation has found.

The car dealers, purporting to be based in Scotland, are geo targeting social media adverts to London and Home Counties car buyers, knowing it’s unlikely they will travel to check the cars out.

The used cars for sale and the car dealer don’t actually exist, but the conmen try to convince car buyers to pay for the cars over the phone.

Using fake websites, sometimes cloning the names and details of legitimate car dealerships, the criminals use a confidence con to part unsuspecting buyers with their cash.

One buyer told Car Dealer Magazine that the criminals said they had to pay for the used car in full before they would deliver it to London.

‘I saw the advert on social media for a car that was incredibly cheap so I wanted to snap up the deal,’ said one buyer, who contacted Car Dealer after seeing our video.

‘They asked for a full payment and said they would deliver it to me. The salesman I spoke to said there was “no need to see it” as all the details were in the advert.

‘It was only because he was so pushy about me paying the money in advance that I got suspicious and googled their name.’

The car dealer in question was Miller Car Sales Limited and its website is still active today. 

Car Dealer reported the firm to fraud investigators and the Police when reports of the con first surfaced at the start of October.

Fraud investigators told Car Dealer that it was clear the conmen were targeting ‘the other end of the country’ to avoid buyers turning up at the used car dealership that doesn’t actually exist.

Sandy Burgess, chief executive of the Scottish Motor Trade Association, said: ‘From what I understand, it’s clear these criminals are targeting London because they know it is unlikely for buyers to travel to see the car first.’

Miller Car Sales is the second scam car dealer to be set up in six weeks. 

The first, AD Car Sales, was uncovered by Car Dealer Magazine and then shut down after investigations by the authorities.

Businesses near where the conmen claim both fake car dealers are based reported ‘hundreds’ of car buyers turning up from the south who had paid for cars that didn’t exist.

Michael Addison of MA Body Shop, based on Millie Road, Kirkcaldy – the same road sham dealer AD Car Sales was supposedly located on – said he was often dealing with London car buyers who had been caught out.

‘We’ve had dozens of people turn up at our body shop looking for the car dealership,’ he told Car Dealer.

Consumer experts said car buyers should think very carefully before paying a deposit for a car they hadn’t seen. 

Checking out a business on a variety of platforms and not just trusting their website was also crucial.

Legitimate car dealerships will have reviews on sites like Auto Trader and Google from previous customers and those without them should be treated with extra caution.

The winter weather can really have an effect on your car, with colder temperatures often ‘shocking’ vehicle components. Features such as batteries, wipers and tyres can all take a hammering during the darker months, which is why checking them over beforehand is so vital.

Fortunately, road safety and breakdown recovery organisation GEM Motoring Assist has released some basic tips on what you can check on your vehicle before the winter hits.

Get your battery checked

Cold weather can put extra strain on an older battery, which would make it less able to get a car started. GEM says that a number of winter breakdown calls that it attends relate to flat batteries, too.

So, if your engine seems to be turning over more slowly than usual, it’s best to get it checked out by a professional. It might mean that the battery needs replacing.

Make sure your car has the right amount of anti-freeze

As you might imagine, anti-freeze is pretty important when the temperatures fall. It’s added to the water in your engine’s cooling system to prevent it from freezing and doing damage to the system.

GEM recommends that you contact a local dealer or mechanic to ensure that the levels are topped up correctly.

Check your lights

Your lights are so important during winter and the darker days that it brings. Not only are they crucial for illuminating the road ahead, but they’re also vital for making sure that you’re visible to other road users.

So make sure that they’re all working as they should be and clean them regularly to keep them clear of dirt, too.

Make sure your tyres have plenty of tread

GEM says that you should be checking the tread depth and pressures weekly throughout the winter. Properly maintained tyres will make sure that the safety systems on your car are working as effectively as possible, while also helping to deliver the best possible fuel economy.

GEM recommends a minimum tread depth of 3mm – over the 1.6mm legal limit – as this will help to disperse more water and reduce the chance of a skid.

Replace windscreen wipers if needed

A heavy downpour can see your windscreen wipers become a key component of your car. It’s why checking them – both front and rear – is so important. Make sure that they’re not smearing when in use and, if they are, it’s a good idea to replace them.

Make sure that you’ve got plenty of screenwash, too, and top it up if required. Remember, wipers can’t clear ice, so if your windscreen is frosted up avoid using them to prevent damage.

A noise-detecting traffic camera is being trialled to catch so-called boy racers.

The camera has been deployed in the Keighley area of Bradford, West Yorkshire, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced.

It will be moved to Birmingham, Bristol and the Norfolk town of Great Yarmouth over the next two months.

The DfT held a competition to select the four areas where the £300,000 trial will take place.

This comes amid concerns about the impact on residents from motorists revving engines and using illegal exhausts.

The technology involves a camera and several microphones which can detect noisy vehicles.

The camera records an image of the vehicle and its noise level, creating a “digital package of evidence” which can be used by police to issue fines, according to the DfT.

It was developed at a private test track to prove its accuracy.

The DfT said road noise can contribute to health problems such as heart attacks, strokes and dementia.

It added that the annual cost of urban road noise including lost productivity from sleep disturbance and the impact on health is estimated at up to £10 billion.

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “Rowdy road drivers beware – these new cameras will help the police clampdown on those who break the legal noise limits or use illegal modified exhausts to make excessive noise in our communities.

“We’ll be working closely with the local authorities and police to share any findings, and I hope that this technology paves the way for quieter, peaceful streets across the country.”

Vehicle exhausts and silencers are required to be properly maintained, and not altered to increase noise.

Non-compliance can lead to a £50 on-the-spot fine.

Noise Abatement Society chief executive Gloria Elliott said: “Excessively noisy vehicles and antisocial driving causes disturbance, stress, anxiety and pain to many.

“It is unsafe and disrupts the environment and people’s peaceful enjoyment of their homes and public places.

“Communities across the UK are increasingly suffering from this entirely avoidable blight.

“The Noise Abatement Society applauds rigorous, effective, evidence-based solutions to address this issue and protect the public.”

A collaboration between professional services firms Atkins and Jacobs is acting as a technical consultant for the trial.

Andrew Pearce, practice director of Atkins-Jacobs Joint Venture, said: “We are fully expecting the trial in these four chosen locations to confirm what we have seen in testing, which is a highly targeted use of technology to ensure only those motorists making excessive noise will be subject to enforcement.”

London’s Westminster Council is already using noise cameras in the areas around Waterloo Place and Exhibition Road.

This was in response to long-term problems with noise and dangerous driving, such as cars performing loud doughnut manoeuvres in the early hours of the morning.

For most Formula 1 fans the idea of owning their very own World Championship-winning car is little more than a pipe dream.

Michael Schumacher’s 2003 title-winning car recently went on sale for an eye-watering £8.4m – putting it way beyond the reach of most motorsport lovers.

However, a cheaper alternative has now emerged via an auction house in the Midlands.

Silverstone Auctions has consigned for sale a detailed replica of James Hunt’s 1976 McLaren M23 that was built for use in the 2013 blockbuster, Rush.

The movie, directed by Ron Howard, chronicled the rivalry between Hunt and Ferrari’s Niki Lauda as they battled for the world title.

It was the flamboyant Hunt, played by Chris Hemsworth, that took the crown, and F1 fans can now get their hands on the car that took him to victory – albeit only in the film.

The replica was one of two built for the movie and is being tipped to sell for between £50,000 and £80,000.

While by no means cheap, the lower estimate is a full 16,700 per cent cheaper than Schumacher’s Ferrari – making it something of a bargain!

It has been with its current owner, who has kept it on static display, since the film wrapped almost a decade ago, and displays a very convincing patina.

The car is not eligible for competitive racing but Silverstone says it comes with a ‘myriad of possibilities for promotion’.

Lionel Abbott, who consigned the car for Silverstone Auctions, said: “When asked if anything was wrong with the film after its premier, Niki Lauda famously quoted, ‘Yes, just one thing, I can’t have a piss-up with James afterwards’.

“He also said that he knew Peter Morgan as a scriptwriter was the only person he trusted to deliver a ‘non Hollywood’ production.”

“The result was a highly acclaimed, reasonably accurate and totally charged depiction of one of Formula One’s most closely fought World Championship deciders, although maybe 2021 is a contender.”

The sale takes place on November 12 at Birmingham’s NEC.