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'Car cruising' could be banned in Black Country in injuction bid to stop boy racers

Car cruisers could be banned in the Black Country from next week as councils and police seek to gain a ground-breaking injunction.

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Boy racers would be stopped from holding their meets across the region if the court case goes in the four councils' favour.

Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall councils, working in partnership with West Midlands Police, submitted an application to the High Court in Birmingham seeking to forbid people from participating in a 'car cruise' anywhere within the Black Country.

They also want to stop the promoting, organising or publicising of such events within the area.

An initial hearing at Birmingham High Court on September 30 was adjourned and will now take place on Monday.

The applicants hope to secure an injunction against 'persons unknown' – and anyone suspected of breaching it would be in contempt of court, for which an adult can face up to two years in prison and a fine.

As well as seeking to prevent acts of dangerous driving, and the obvious dangers that they pose, the application led by Wolverhampton City Council also looks to address other problems associated with car cruising.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's cabinet member for leisure and communities, said: "Car cruising has been a bone of contention for local residents and businesses for many years.

"The activities are not only wholly anti-social, but also illegal and dangerous, putting the safety of participants and spectators at risk; indeed, it's only a matter of time until more people are seriously injured or even killed.

"Black Country councils and the police have received numerous complaints about car cruising and we are determined to do all we can to put a stop to this menace.

"This is a complex, longstanding and significant multi-faceted problem, and the Black Country boroughs collectively consider we are taking an innovative, partnership-based approach to try to resolve this and fulfil our statutory duties to the areas we serve."

'Boy racers' taking part in car cruising have prompted scores of complaints to local councils and West Midlands Police over the last few years.

These range from vehicles and spectators obstructing highways or residential or business properties, to dangerous driving, excessive noise from revving engines and stereo systems, littering, verbal abuse, swearing and intimidation.

There have also been a number of collisions involving vehicles taking part in a car cruise.

Chief Inspector Kerry Blakeman, head of West Midlands Police's Traffic unit, said: "Securing this injunction would form the backbone of our on-going measures to target people using the road as a racetrack while ensuring the safety of others.

"As well as the obvious dangers of driving at speed on urban roads, car cruising generates a lot of late-night noise nuisance for people living near key routes.

"Law abiding drivers can also feel intimidated when they inadvertently find themselves in the middle of a gathering."

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