Car cruisers across Nottinghamshire have been warned they could face prison if they continue to blight the lives of residents and businesses at three notorious cruising blackspots in the county.
The warning comes after an injunction order, secured by a consortium of authorities including Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottinghamshire Police, has banned car cruisers from gathering at three separate county locations.
The order will remain in force until January 2018 and bans a variety of activity, including racing, riding in convoy, driving at excessive speed and drifting sideways around traffic islands.
It means boy racers and car cruisers will now be unable to congregate at the Victoria Retail Park, the Chilwell Retail Park and roads at Hucknall and Annesley, near to junction 27 of the M1 motorway.
Delighted
Both Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire County Council have welcomed the injunction order, which was granted at Nottingham County Court last week.
Councillor Alice Grice, Vice-Chair of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Safety Committee, said that she is delighted the council have been able to secure the injunction, giving extra powers to police to ‘curb’ the boy racers.
“Car cruising is anti-social for nearby residents and businesses and dangerous for those taking part and other road-users, ” she added.
“People who behave and drive recklessly in these locations in the future should be left in no doubt that they face the genuine possibility of a prison sentence if they continue to behave in a way which is dangerous, intimidating and distressing to local people and road users.”
Also commenting on the injunction, Andy Charlton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said if boy racers continue to breach the warnings issued they can be taken to court.
He added: “If they subsequently breach the warning they can be taken to court. Safety is our main concern and this injunction will prevent large numbers of vehicles meeting up at junction 27 of the M1, Chilwell Retail Park and Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield for the next three years.”
“People who behave and drive recklessly in these locations in the future should be left in no doubt that they face the genuine possibility of a prison sentence…”
Hitting back
Despite the injunction being put into place, a modified car group called ‘East Midz Cruisers’ met up at a different location in Mansfield, earlier this week.
Nottinghamshire Police tried to prevent the meet taking place prior to the event, however scores of car fanatics still attended.
Speaking exclusively to Notts TV News at the meeting, Richard Pearson, a member of car modification club ‘Modified Club UK’, said that these gatherings are not all about racing.
“Everybody basically seems to be against us, they don’t want us.” He added.
According to Richard, the stereotype that these groups of people gather to race around and generally be anti-social, doesn’t apply to everyone.
“It’s not all about that. It’s about showing your car off, showing what you have worked hard for, basically.”
