High Court extends injunctions against street racing in West Midlands ahead of final hearing
Interim injunctions banning ‘street racing’ in Birmingham and the Black Country have been extended by the High Court.
Wolverhampton City Council said the injunction prohibits people from engaging in motor racing, motor stunts or other dangerous or obstructive driving on public roads, including those who are only passengers in vehicles involved.
It covers the whole of the boroughs of Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall, while a separate similar injunction covers Birmingham.
The interim injunction and power of arrest were initially granted in December, continued in February and now remain in force pending a Supreme Court judgment on an unrelated case that also concerns injunctions against ‘persons unknown’.
Jasbir Jaspal, Wolverhampton’s cabinet member for adults and wellbeing, said: “Street racing is noisy, dangerous and illegal and, as we have tragically seen in the last 12 months, can result in death or serious injuries among drivers, passengers and spectators. This interim injunction provides a very strong deterrent to anyone thinking of taking part in this anti-social activity.”
Birmingham’s injunction carries similar prohibitions. Nicky Brennan, cabinet member for social justice, community safety and equalities, said: “Street cruising is dangerous as well as being a nuisance for law-abiding citizens.
“While the current order remains in place, I would like to see the courts take public concerns into consideration and grant a full injunction, outlawing street cruises for good across our city.”
West Midlands Police chief superintendent Ian Green said: “We have been working jointly with all local authorities over the past few years and are determined to tackle dangerous and reckless driving which puts the safety of others and themselves at risk.”
The Supreme Court case, which was heard in February, concerns whether a court can grant final injunctions that prevent persons unknown and unidentified from occupying and trespassing on land.
Wolverhampton City Council and others v London Gypsies and Travellers and others is a test case brought after several local authorities sought interim and then final injunctions against unidentified and unknown persons who may set up unauthorised encampments on local authority land.
Appellants in the case have challenged an injunction obtained in October 2018 by Wolverhampton against ‘persons unknown’.
Mark Smulian
