CAR cruising meets that involve antisocial 'street racing' and 'stunts' are now being targeted by police as they ask for 'footage' of bad behaviour as evidence. 

Officers from our Operational Policing Unit (OPU) have attended car cruising events held in Worcester, Redditch and Bromsgrove in recent weeks.

Car cruises are where drivers meet on public roads to race or show off their vehicles. A minority of these drivers perform dangerous stunts and drive at excessive speed and in an anti-social manner.

Such cruises can also attract large crowds who are mainly well-behaved though they risk being injured by those cars driving dangerously and a minority may commit anti-social behaviour.

OPU Inspector Stephanie Arrowsmith said: “Car cruising meets remain a popular activity, particularly with motoring enthusiasts from a younger demographic.

“We are supportive of these groups and engage with them, however we are trying to maintain a balance between those who attend car cruise meets and local residents.

“Sometimes a minority can ruin these events for the majority who just want to socialise with like-minded people. Noisy exhausts, crowds and speeding cars all have an impact on the surrounding neighbourhoods and can have affect people’s quality of life."

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Those who commit offences will be dealt with under the Road Traffic Act, or if they are negatively impacting on the surrounding communities, they will be dealt with via a tiered system, starting with an ASB letter, a Community Protection Warning, or if they are involved in a further incident a Community Protection Notice. Drivers could also see their vehicle seized by police.

“Please be assured our OPU team is ready to deal with any motorists who break the law either through dangerous driving or speeding or any onlookers through anti-social behaviour,” added Insp Arrowsmith.

“Our interventions are borderless so all people, regardless of if they reside on our force area or not will be dealt with in the same way.

“I would also like to encourage people to submit footage of any street racing or dangerous driving through our Op Snap portal and any anti-social behaviour via our online reporting system at report a crime on West Mercia Police's website.”

This month West Mercia Police has been supporting the Fatal Four campaign to clamp down on the four main causes of road traffic collisions - speeding or inappropriate speed; distractions, such as mobile phones; driving under the influence of drink or drugs and not wearing a seatbelt.