High Court extends street racing injunction ahead of final hearing

An interim injunction banning street racing in the Black Country has been permitted to continue by the High Court almost a year on from when it was first implemented.

The news comes as the black country authorities - Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton - successfully mounted prosecutions against two individuals for breaching the injunction.

The interim injunction prohibits people from participating, as a driver, a rider or a passenger, in a gathering of two or more people at which some of those present engage in motor racing or motor stunts or other dangerous or obstructive driving.

Anyone found to have breached the injunction will be in contempt of court and could be hit with penalties ranging from imprisonment or a fine to an order to have their assets, such as their car, seized.

Earlier this month (4 October), Mrs Justice Kelly allowed the interim injunction to continue and ordered that a further review hearing be held on 20 December 2023, with a final hearing on 27 and 28 February 2024.

The application was led by the City of Wolverhampton Council on behalf of Dudley Council, Sandwell Council and Walsall Council and supported by West Midlands Police.

The injunction was initially granted in December 2022 and continued in February.

Councillor Syeda Khatun, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Protection, said: “The two successful court cases show that we take breaches of the injunction very seriously and that those involved in street racing are at risk of going to prison."

The two individuals found to have breached the injunction were handed jail sentences suspended for 12 months. They were caught speeding at 80mph and 90mph, respectively, in a 40mph zone.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, added: "We are pleased that the High Court has seen fit to continue this interim injunction, which has brought about a dramatic reduction of incidents of street racing in our region.

Adam Carey