Four Black Country councils in boy racer crackdown

The four Black Country councils have begun their bid to get a High Court injunction against boy racers.

But His Honour Robert Owen QC has already expressed concern that the order is too "draconian" and that innocent spectators could be arrested.

Wolverhampton City Council is leading Walsall, Dudley and Sandwell in seeking the order banning the organisation of meetings and participation in races.

The Black Country Route in Bilston and Moxley, Birmingham New Road on the border of Wolverhampton and Dudley and Maybrook Industrial Estate in Brownhills have all been hotspots for car cruisers.

Representing the councils, Mr Joseph Giret QC at Birmingham Civil Justice Centre said that street racing had caused misery for residents.

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"There is a point in the evidence where witnesses have said 'one day this will end very badly and we're surprised there haven't been any deaths'," he said. "It is an injunction to prevent anything from happening in these four jurisdictions. They want to prevent any deaths."

Mr Giret QC also told the hearing that reports of car cruising had been made as recently as July, with residents kept awake by the noise at night.

But His Honour Judge Owen said he had concerns about the level of power being sought with the injunction.

He said: "I'm concerned anyone standing at the side watching these races take place could be wrongly arrested and then things could get out of hand.

"I'm concerned that such a draconian order is required from the court."

The case was adjourned and the date of the next hearing to be fixed.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's community chief, said: "We are determined to end the menace of car cruising across the Black Country and will continue to work towards our goal of securing an injunction forbidding people from organising or participating in a car cruise in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall.

"Car cruising is noisy, dangerous and illegal, and the four Black Country councils and West Midlands Police have received hundreds of complaints about it from residents and businesses over the last few years.

"These range from complaints about 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.

"We have pulled together a wealth of evidence detailing the harm that car cruising causes which we have presented to the court in support of our application."