Dudley Council ditches street-racing injunction to seek 'other means' of tackling the problem - full details here
Dudley Council has applied to drop its injunction on car cruising and street racing to focus on other means of tackling the menace.
The council today (Thursday, February 26) lodged an application at the High Court to end its involvement in the injunction, which was a joint initiative with Wolverhampton, Walsall and Sandwell councils.
Councillor Damian Corfield, whose own son was killed at an unlawful street-racing event, said the authority would continue to work closely with neighbouring authorities to tackle the problem.
But he said the council had chosen to tackle the problem through the use of a Public Space Protection Order, which would allow enforcement to be extended to other forms of anti-social driving, including the off-road use of 'quad bikes' and motorcycles.
At today's hearing, lawyers for the authority said that until Friday last week, the council had been in talks with neighbouring authorities about its position, but has now decided it no longer wished to pursue the injunction.
The injunction, first granted on 27 February 2024, banned so-called car-cruising or street racing across the four authorities.
Councillor Corfield, who is the council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: "Following the implementation of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in Dudley borough, Dudley Council has taken the decision to not to remain in the Black Country Car Cruising injunction.
“The order will continue to give us powers to tackle reckless and dangerous driving on our roads, but this move also means we can act against other dangerous anti-social behaviour such as the off-road use of quadbikes and motorbikes.
“The issue of car cruising will remain under review and the council will continue to take appropriate steps to protect the residents of this borough and further curb this issue.”
Councillor Corfield's 19-year-old son Ben, and his friend Liberty Charris, 16, were killed at an unlawful street-racing event in Oldbury three years ago.
Last year almost 1,900 people signed an Express & Star petition calling for Ben's Law, which proposed a national blanket ban on street racing events.
The existing injunction runs until February 27, 2027, and is subject to annual review.
It prohibits anyone who is a driver, rider or passenger in or on a motor vehicle from taking part between 3pm and 7am in a gathering of two or more people where motor racing, stunts or other dangerous or obstructive driving takes place.
It also covers organisers and spectators, banning people from promoting, organising or publicising the gatherings.
Police officers also have the power of arrest anyone they believe to be in breach of the order, with penalties include prison, a fine or seizure of assets.
The other three councils said they intended to continue with the injunction.
If the council's application is successful, all signs advertising it within Dudley borough will need to be removed. Neighbouring authorities must remove or obscure any reference to Dudley in its signs.
