Last Sunday (31st May) West Midlands Police launched a major crackdown on illegal car cruisers who are flouting the law banning dangerous gatherings.
Officers swooped on around 85 vehicles on the A38 near Bassetts Pole during the early hours of yesterday morning (Monday 1 June) in a large-scale pre-planned operation following complaints from people living in the area.
They worked closely with police colleagues from Warwickshire and West Mercia after seeing the illegal cruisers travel not only across our force area but also into Droitwich and Coleshill.
Four people were arrested; a wanted person was found in one of the cars and three men drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway in a suspected stolen car after seeing police, they abandoned the car and made off onto the M6. They were all tracked by the police helicopter and detained by officers.
Four cars were seized for having no insurance, and unbelievably some people were even trying to insure their cars last night while waiting in the Police road block.
We’ve taken details of the drivers and all passengers in the cars – 85 drivers were issued with a Section 59 warning for using their car in an anti-social manner and 180 people were reported for breaching the car cruising injunction. In addition, we’ve reported illegal number plates, made people remove illegal tints and reported a number of modifications. People were also dealt with for Covid-19 breaches.
The events last night were the latest in a number of gatherings in recent weeks.
On Monday 25th May, the force received numerous reports of up to 100 cars racing between the Fort and Star City.
During the early hours of Wednesday 27th May, two cars involved in car cruising collided causing significant damage to both vehicles, miraculously no-one was seriously injured.
Chief Superintendent Ian Green, who lead the operation, said: “We’re taking this action to get the message out that these illegal gatherings are completely unacceptable.
“Lives are being put at risk, residents are having to put up with intolerable noise, and our time is being taken away from helping and protecting the public elsewhere.
“This is not about targeting people who have a passion for cars, it’s about targeting people who put themselves and other road users at risk, make people’s lives a misery and are breaking the law.”
An injunction banning the illegal gatherings is in place, and drivers or passengers suspected of breaching it can be arrested on the spot and have to go to court within 24 hours.
They can be fined or jailed for up to two years, and the ban also applies to people who go to watch the events. During the last three years, at least 30 people have been arrested, with at least 16 defendants receiving prison sentences.
Drivers whose cars are spotted at these events will be reported to their insurers – meaning policies could be cancelled or premiums shoot up.
Motorists who have their insurance cancelled could have their livelihoods affected as they might find it difficult to get policies in the future.
