Car cruising is by mainly young men in evenings, gathering in cars and making a nuisance by performing sharp turns and other noisy stunts, and drawing onlookers who can be antisocial; besides putting themselves, passengers and anyone in the vicinity at risk. Any grass gets ruined by tyre marks; litter gets left; horns are sounded and excessively loud music played, into the early hours. It’s a problem across the UK, whether on Pall Mall in the heart of tourist London, or town centre car parks or roads on edge of town industrial estates.
Peterborough City Council is proposing a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to cover the Pleasure Fair Meadow Car Park; a council-operated, long-stay public car park of 316 parking spaces near the railway station and beside the River Nene. As a consultation document sets out, the location has become a ‘hot spot’, ‘for vehicle-related anti-social behaviour, unauthorised car meets and car cruising events across the city’. Cruising ranges from single cars and small groups to gatherings of 300 cars or more. The council acknowledges that incidents may be under-reported, and have dated from at least 2019.
While Pleasure Fair Meadow is covered by council public space surveillance cameras, Railworld Wildlife Haven that runs a car park on a neighbouring open space has had to put up concrete blocks to deter cruisers. Cambridgeshire Police has twice in 2023 and 2024 made dispersal orders against vehicle-related crime and anti-social behaviour when police have had prior knowledge of organised car meets. Another legal avenue open to the authorities are Community Protection Warnings and Notices, which police have also given to those organising such gatherings. Drivers have been arrested or received fines for vehicle-related offences, according to the consultation document.
The council and police are seeking a PSPO because meets are unpredictable and usually arranged online. PSPOs dating from a 2014 law allow councils to tackle a nuisance (typically dog fouling, littering or urinating in public) in a particular area, giving police or hired contract staff the power to issue Fixed Penalty Notices of ยฃ100, though in recent years a trend has been for some councils to set district-wide PSPOs.
In Southend on Sea (pictured), the city council is consulting on the renewal of its four PSPOs, that include one against ‘Anti-social Car Cruises’. The council describes its PSPOs as part of the Operation Union toolkit designed to address anti-social behaviour and crime in high profile foreshore areas.
In Staffordshire, a PSPO by Cannock Chase District Council came into force on January 31 covering Cannock, Hednesford and Rugeley town centres, covering drinking alcohol in the street, driving in an anti-social manner, performing stunts or deliberately using their horns, riding e-scooters, loitering, trespassing and urinating in public places. Chief Insp Mat Walker, Cannock local policing Commander, said: โThe new Public Spaces Protection Order will allow the police and council to intervene with ongoing concerns in a proportionate way, whilst providing a combined problem-solving approach.
โOur officers and those from the councilโs community safety team deal with issues of anti-social behaviour each and every day, and the order will allow us to be more effective when supporting our communities.โ
An injunction last year banned street racing in the boroughs of Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall. At a hearing in Birmingham on February 26, Mr Justice Ritchie permitted the injunction to continue, with minor amendments to the wording, after hearing evidence from the claimant councils that there was a “pressing need for a continuance”. Mr Justice Ritchie said: “Street racing involves speeding, loud noise, convoys, racing, stunts and obstructions. I find that the order has been very effective in protecting the public, catching criminals, bringing them before the court quickly, and giving them a punishment which seems to be working.
“This action has probably saved lives and very probably prevented injuries – and the councils and police should be congratulated on doing it.”
The High Court is due to further annually review the injunction. West Midlands Police ask members of the public to submit dash cam or mobile phone footage of street racing events or dangerous driving via its Operation Snap website.
Scooters
Swindon Borough Council with Wiltshire Police agreement is consulting to March 17 on a proposed PSPO, covering the town centre, banning use of e-bikes and e-scooters in the area, on-street drinking, urinating in public and the use of a pedal bike considered of danger to pedestrians. Jim Grant, Swindon councilโs Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, said: โFollowing feedback from residents and business owners, the restrictions in the PSPO aim to clamp down on certain behaviours which are being carried out by a minority of people. Weโre committed to ensuring that our residents feel safe and supported.”
Similarly Solihull Council is holding a consultation on a planned PSPO in Chelmsley Wood, which would restrict use of e-bikes, scooters and motorbikes there, as well as limit gatherings and other potential antisocial behaviour.
Burnley Council has extended the provisions of its town centre PSPO, to include misuse of skateboards, bicycles and scooters.
Background
PSPOs were introduced as part of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Enforcement of a PSPO is typically carried out by police and designated council officers. A PSPO typically lasts for three years and goes out for consultation before any renewal.
