Injunction bans street racing in the Black Country
It forbids anyone who is a driver, rider or passenger in or on a motor vehicle to participate between the hours of 3pm and 7am in a gathering of two or more persons within the Black Country area at which some of those present engage in motor racing or motor stunts or other dangerous or obstructive driving.
It also covers organisers and spectators, prohibiting people from promoting, organising or publicising gatherings, or from participating in a gathering as a spectator with the intention or expectation that some of those present will engage in street racing.
The injunction covers the whole of the boroughs of Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton and has a Power of Arrest attached to it which gives the police the power to arrest anyone who breaches it. Breach of an injunction is a contempt to court and if proved the court has the power to impose a sentence of imprisonment, a fine, or an order seizing a person’s assets.
For the purposes of the injunction, stunts are defined as driving manoeuvres often undertaken at such gatherings including but not limited to:
- “Burnouts” – causing a vehicle to destroy its tyres by applying power to the drive wheels while braking so as to remain in place while the wheels revolve at speed
- “Donuts/Donutting” – causing a vehicle to rotate around a fixed point (normally the front axle) while not moving-off causing noise, smoke and tyre marks to be created
- “Drifting” – turning by placing the vehicle in a skid so that most sideways motion is due to the skid not any significant steering input
- “Undertaking” – Passing a vehicle on its nearside so as to overtake in circumstances not permitted by the Highway Code.
The injunction and power of arrest were granted on Tuesday 27 February 2024 and will remain in force for a period of at least three years, and will be subject to an annual review.
The next hearing is scheduled to take place on 26 February 2025 at 10.30am at the High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division, Birmingham District Registry at Birmingham Civil and Family Justice Centre, The Priory Courts, 33 Bull Street, Birmingham, B4 6DS. Defendants who wish to file any evidence in respect of the review hearing must do so by 7 February 2025.
Full details of the injunction, including evidence presented to the High Court, the sealed order, power of arrest and other supporting documentation such as a map showing the Black Country area, can be found on our street racing downloads webpage.
Incidents of street racing should be reported online to the council or to West Midlands Police on 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.
If you spot street racing injunction signs are damaged or missing, please report damaged or missing signs online to the council or call the highways team on 0121 368 1177.
The application was led by the City of Wolverhampton Council on behalf of Sandwell Council, Dudley Council and Walsall Council, and supported by West Midlands Police.
To contact the claimants, write to: FAO: Black Country Car Cruise, Legal Services, City of Wolverhampton Council, Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1RG. Alternatively, email litigation@wolverhampton.gov.uk or call 01902 556556.
Wolverhampton City Council's street racing injunction webpage has further documents relating to the injunction, includung video evidence presented to the High Court and evidence and documentation in the injunction application September 2022 to February 2024.