Police in Harlow will be using special powers, granted only once before in Britain, to prevent hundreds of drivers joining illegal car cruises in the town.
A High Court injunction obtained at Southend county court on Wednesday, April 14, will allow officers to disperse any groups of drivers gathering anywhere in the Harlow area over the next year.<br><br>Anyone caught car cruising will now have their name taken for contempt of court and they will be arrested if they fail to give their names.<br><br>Police will also use usual legislation to prosecute drivers for motoring offences, obstructing the highway, noise nuisance, anti-social behaviour for which they could have a car seized, and any other motoring or criminal offences.<br>Essex Police This order enables the council and police to take preventative measures to ensure public safety and general overall safety to road users. Essex Police<br>Chief Supt Simon Williams<br><br>The injunction was obtained by police and Harlow Council following concerns over an illegal cruise for high-performance cars being planned for Saturday April 17.<br><br>At a similar event last month police were concerned at the high levels of anti-social behaviour, noise and dangerous driving.<br><br>The council and police needed to take action as Saturday’s event was being billed as even bigger than the cruise last month.<br><br>Sgt Lewis Basford said: "Harlow neighbourhood policing team and Harlow’s community safety team have used legislation from Section 222 of the Local Government Act 1972.<br><br>"This is only the second time that this legislation has been used, since it was obtained recently by Birmingham City council, to combat such types of anti-social behaviour involving the use of motor vehicles.<br>Essex Police This is only the second time that this legislation has been used to combat such types of anti-social behaviour involving the use of motor vehicles. <br><br>Chief Supt Simon Williams, the Western divisional commander said: “It is a first for Essex and will allow us to halt these illegal cruises, which present significant danger to those attending because of the irresponsible acts of some of the drivers. The neighbouring communities suffer from anti-social behaviour from loud music, engines revving and general noise related to car cruises which are unacceptable.<br><br>“This order enables the council and police to take preventative measures to ensure public safety and general overall safety to road users.<br><br>“Our message is ‘If you are thinking of coming to Harlow for an illegal car cruise at the weekend, don’t bother, because we have the powers to stop you.”
