Shocking footage of Midlands boy racers released by police
Shocking footage has emerged of a young boy dodging speeding drivers while acting as an unofficial race starter in street races that have been plaguing city streets.
The schoolboy appears in clips recorded on covert cameras in Birmingham as part of a police blitz on the problem that has seen around 200 drivers banned and fined.
Footage filmed over a three-month period between May and July shows up to 500 motorists at a time gathering on the A47 near Star City – usually on Sunday or Bank Holiday nights – before using the dual carriageway as a race track, with cars hurtling between roundabouts at speeds of up to 100mph.
In images released by West Midlands Police today, cars can be seen waiting at traffic lights, revving their engines, before zooming off.
Crowds of people line the streets while in the most shocking footage a young boy can be seen lifting his hands into the air and dropping them to signal the start of the race. In one clip he is pictured with an older man who then drags him out of the way as the race starts, while in another clip he is seen fleeing the start line on his own. Another clip shows a car smash into the back of another vehicle at the start line.
Following complaints from residents and innocent drivers, a crackdown was launched and 400 drivers were identified from the CCTV footage.
Driving bans of up to 12 months and hefty court fines have now been handed out, while some motorists caught flouting drive bans are now behind bars.
Pc Paul Bieliauskas, from the investigation team, said: "Street racers have been making stretches of the A47 near Star City, roads in Bordesley Green and the A38 towards Bassetts Pole, no-go roads on Sunday nights into the early hours. Fortunately there have been no fatal accidents, but that's largely down to good fortune. It would only take one accident and we could have multiple injuries and fatalities of both spectators and motorists."
He added that the schoolboy has also been identified and social services are now dealing with his family. Around 120 injunctions have also been issued against the "cruisers", prohibiting them from participating in or watching street racing. Anyone who flouts their injunction will be banned from driving and risk a fine of up to £5,000.
The action comes as police in Cannock try to fight the problem of youths congregating at Longford Island and the Orbital Retail Park on Sunday nights. Officers have handed in an application to solicitors for a High Court injunction aimed at dispersing groups of young motorists.
By Lisa Wright
