Injunction secured to help stop Birmingham ‘boy racers’
Birmingham Community Safety Partnership, with the support of West Midlands Police has successfully secured a two year extension to an Injunction Order under section 222 of the Government Act 1972, preventing ‘boy racers’ from ‘car-cruising’ in Castle Vale and surrounding area, within Birmingham The injunction order takes effect immediately and applies to anyone participating in a car cruise between 7pm and 7am on any public access point within the boundaries of Tyburn Road from Spaghetti Junction, and Washwood Heath Road and Coleshill Road.
Within the defined boundary area, vehicle drivers and/or their passengers are prohibited from causing excessive noise, danger to other road users (including pedestrians), damage or the risk of damage to private property, littering and any other nuisance to another person not participating in the car-cruise.
The original one year injunction order was secured following an application made to Birmingham County Court on 22 September 2010. This application was supported by safer communities officers from Birmingham Community Safety Partnership and police officers, who were eager to bring an end to the misery endured by local residents, businesses and other road users.
Since the introduction 112 drivers have been handed injunctions which prevent them from driving at excessive speed, driving in convoy, racing other vehicles, performing stunts, sounding their horns, playing radios, dropping litter, shouting, swearing, or abusing, threatening or otherwise intimidating another person.
Failure to comply could result in a fine or a prison sentence. Breaches of the Injunction can also lead to seizures of vehicles by the police.
The new injunction now extends these conditions until 22nd September 2013.
Commenting on the extension of this injunction, Acting Superintendent Richard Youds said: “Across the West Midlands officers are adopting a number of tactics to reduce the issues connected to large gatherings of car cruisers and the concerns these bring to local communities.
“The initial injunction and now the two year extension were both made possible by the strength of the information submitted by the local community. I’d like to thank them all for their support over the past 12 months, and reassure them we continue to work to minimise the impact this issue has in their community.”
As part of Operation Shield, a joint operation run by officers across the West Midlands and Staffordshire, officers continue to attend the locations that members of the public have identified as a concern. Officers have spoken to those in attendance about the impact that their actions are having in the local area.
A/Supt Youds continued: “The response to the operation has been really positive, both from the local communities and the motorists gathering at these locations.” Across the force we have seen a 50% reduction in calls from the public reporting this issue and we will continue to reduce the criminal and safety issues that can be associated with these gatherings.
“In a recent gathering we reported two drivers for dangerous driving and issued three fixed penalty notices for motoring offences. So although we are seeing big improvements this will not affect our stance against the minority of motorists who continue to commit offences.
“We will continue to work with Birmingham City Council and our other partners to ensure our roads are as safe as possible, and we will deal firmly with anyone caught breaking the law and causing a nuisance to other road users. The injunction forms one part of continued efforts under Operation Shield, which aims to reduce antisocial behaviour on our roads.
Councillor Ayoub Khan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Local Services comments: “I am pleased by the continuing action taken by the Police and Council Officers to put a sends out an important message to those who choose to break the law – anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in Birmingham and action will be taken against those who cause misery to others.
“It is important that local residents see we treat their concerns seriously and that we do our very best to respond to them. The action taken over the past year sends out an important message to those who choose to break the law – anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in Birmingham and action will be taken against those who cause misery to others.”
