Type=image;ImageID=13041;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Incidents of street racing has fallen;TitleClass=strong;
It follows the successful introduction of a High Court injunction in 2015, subsequently renewed earlier this year, which bans people from taking part in, or promoting, organising or publicising, a car cruise in the Black Country, and a similar injunction introduced across Birmingham and Solihull in 2016.
There were a total of 3,122 incidents of vehicles racing in the West Midlands Police area in the last 12 months, 26% less than the previous year.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: "Following tough action by the police and local councils we have reduced the number of street racing incidents by a quarter.
"Some 23 offenders have been convicted in the Black Country for breaking the injunction on street racing since it came into force in 2015. A further six offenders are awaiting a court hearing.
"In Birmingham and Sandwell, we have also recently seen imprisonments for people breaking the car cruising injunction, showing how seriously the authorities take this issue."
Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "We know that the High Court injunction has had a tremendous impact on car cruising in the Black Country, reducing instances of it dramatically and even eradicating the problem in some areas.
"I welcome these figures which demonstrate that, thanks to the introduction of similar injunctions in other parts of the West Midlands, the menace of car cruising is also being reduced across the wider region."
Councillor Val Gibson, Cabinet Member for Governance, added: "It is vital that the authorities continue using these injunctions to not only bring perpetrators to book but, more importantly, deter would-be car cruisers from participating in this in the first place."
The injunction prohibits activities typically associated with car cruising, including speeding, racing and driving in convoy, performing stunts and causing an obstruction on a public highway.
It also prohibits consequences associated with car cruising, including excessive noise, danger or risk of injury to other road users and pedestrians, damage or risk of damage to property and significant risk of harm, public nuisance and annoyance to the public.
Anyone breaching the injunction risks being in contempt of court, for which they can face up to two years in prison and a fine. In addition, police retain their powers in relation to traffic offences including driving without insurance, driving an unroadworthy vehicle and driving without due care and attention.
To read a copy of the injunction, and for more information, please visit Type=articles;Articleid=5901;Title=Car cruising injunction;.
Incidents of car cruising should be reported to West Midlands Police on 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.
- released: Wednesday 27 June, 2018