New ban bid after Black Country car cruising crackdown success
Seventeen drivers have been convicted of breaching a ‘ground-breaking’ injunction banning car cruising across the Black Country.
The injunction, which was granted three years ago, forbids people from getting involved with car cruises in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall.
Councillors and police are now proclaiming the injunction has had a ‘major impact’ and are planning to appeal for the injunction to continue.
Councillor Paul Sweet, Wolverhampton council’s cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: “The injunction has undoubtedly been a success, dramatically reducing the menace of car cruising across the region and eliminating it from certain areas altogether.
“As well as securing 17 convictions, a number of warning letters have been issued to people who have participated in, or were planning, a car cruise.
“However, the problem has not been entirely eradicated and sadly there have still been a number of fatalities linked to car cruising over the last few years.”
The injunction, which came into force in February 2015, has seen 17 people fined or handed suspended sentences for participating in or organising a car cruise.
Convictions can also be handed down for effects of car cruising including excessive noise, danger or risk of injury to others, damage or risk of damage to property, public nuisance and annoyance to the public
An application to continue the injunction for a further three years will be heard at the Birmingham District Registry of the High Court on January 9.
Joanne Mason, from Wolverhampton’s anti-social behaviour team, said car cruising had ‘virtually ceased’ in the Spring Vale and Bilston areas of the city.
People breaching the injunction face being in contempt of court, which could see them receive up to two years in jail and a fine.
Inspector Julie Mason, of West Midlands Police, said: “People in Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall say they are seeing much less car cruising activity in their areas since the injunction came into force, while in Dudley it has ceased in some areas but instead moved to other parts of the borough.
“It is imperative that the injunction remains in place.”
