Plan to reinstate car cruise ban as problems surge

A ban on car cruising could be reinstated following a rise in incidents after the previous court order lapsed.

North Warwickshire Borough Council's Safer Communities Sub-Committee heard that removal of signs relating to the expired order had led to the spike.

Powers to disperse groups of two or more vehicles – cars or motorcycles – gathering, racing, performing stunts or creating a nuisance had been in place from August 2018 until June 2021, according to the authority's website.

Anyone breaching the injunction could face "serious consequences", including up to two years in prison, an unlimited fine or seizure of their assets, it said.

Car cruising describes groups of vehicles driving in convoy, stunt performances and static meet-ups between car enthusiasts, and other events permitted by police.

The authority added the powers, which have to be signed off by the High Court, are usually time-limited.

"We took down the signage around the car cruising injunction because it was out of date," said council officer Julie Taylor.

"Immediately we had problems on this patch as a result of people being aware that the signage had come down."

The new injunction could be in place within the next month, she said, adding that the problem was "primarily" caused to people coming from outside the area.

"We already have a statement sorted, the evidence from the police and information from businesses so we can move on it quite quickly," she said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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