South Staffordshire car cruise targeted after rise in cases

New measures to crack down on cruising cars are being considered in south Staffordshire.

There has been an increase in such incidents on roads including the A449 and A460 in the Coven and Featherstone areas in recent months, district councilors heard.

Staffordshire Police said in a report to the meeting that it has powers to impound vehicles that are being driven in an anti-social manner on routes from the A449/M54 junction to the island junction with Brewood Road.

However, the signs were removed in several places and without them enforcement could not take place, the study for South Staffordshire Council’s Scrutiny and Scrutiny Committee said.

During the car ride, owners show off their modified cars to fans and may include convoy driving, speed, racing and engine revs.

The commission heard on Tuesday that a High Court injunction was being considered and such a move would ban anyone who was a driver, rider or passenger in or on a motor vehicle from attending assemblies in certain locations.

Police would then have the power to arrest anyone who breached the order, but concerns were raised about how police officers would handle a situation if there were multiple arrests at the same time.

There is already a car cruising order in the Black Country covering Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall.

Cannock Chase Council had had a bylaw in place for several years but had recently reviewed it and was investigating alternative approaches, the council heard.

“Although the arrest power gives the police the power to arrest and bring offenders to court within 24 hours, should there be more arrests, the police suggest this is impossible due to the number of officers required,” the report added .

“If there are multiple offenders, taking them to court will require council solicitor resources and cost around £1,000 per visit.”

The council is now considering introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in the area.

PSPOs were introduced by the government in 2014 and aim to restrict certain activities in set locations, allowing officials to deal with breaches by issuing fines.

In this case, the council heard that offenders could face a fixed penalty or prosecution through a magistrates’ court, with a potential fine of up to £1,000.

Council officer Maggie Quinn said those following the cruiser could also be targeted by the order if they supported it.

“It could save lives as several spectator lives have been lost at car cruise events,” she added.

The commission members supported the PSPO proposal, which was to go out for public consultation.

Approval was also sought to install replacement signs for those missing about the police.