Council to use public space protection orders to tackle car cruising rather than rely on Black Country-wide High Court injunctions

The borough-wide PSPO came into force last month, alongside two further PSPOs covering Dudley town centre and Castlegate, and Stourbridge town centre and Wollaston. More information on the orders can be found here.

Explaining the move, Cllr Damian Corfield, Dudley’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “We continue to work closely with neighbouring authorities and Police to tackle the issue of car cruising.

“However, following the implementation of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in Dudley borough, Dudley Council has taken the decision to not to remain in the Black Country Car Cruising injunction.”

Cllr Corfield added: “The PSPO will continue to give us powers to tackle reckless and dangerous driving on our roads, but this move also means we can act against other dangerous antisocial behaviour such as the offroad use of quadbikes and motorbikes.

“The issue of car cruising will remain under review and the council will continue to take appropriate steps to protect the residents of this borough and further curb this issue.”

In September 2024 the High Court granted West Midlands councils injunctions to prevent car ‘cruising’ races on public roads.

Unusually, the case had 29 defendants, four of them categories of ‘persons unknown’.

Wolverhampton City Council and Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall metropolitan borough councils were granted injunctions against persons unknown engaged in unofficial motor races, those present who excepted to join in, drivers of vehicles and people who organise or publicise such events.

The four councils additionally applied for injunction against five named defendants.

Birmingham City Council applied for similar injunctions against 20 named people.