Police are taking action to reassure communities across Worcestershire over plans to tackle car cruising. 

Officers from the Operation Policing Unit (OPU) have attended events held in Redditch, Bromsgrove and Worcester in recent weeks and have a robust plan in place to stop any dangerous driving, speeding or anti-social behaviour (ASB) that may occur.

Car cruises are where drivers meet on public roads to race or show off their vehicles.

A minority of these drivers perform dangerous stunts and drive at excessive speed and in an anti-social manner.

Such cruises can also attract large crowds who are mainly well-behaved though they risk being injured by those cars driving dangerously and a minority may commit anti-social behaviour.

OPU Inspector Stephanie Arrowsmith said: "Car cruising meets remain a popular activity, particularly with motoring enthusiasts from a younger demographic.

"We are supportive of these groups and engage with them, but we are trying to maintain a balance between those who attend car cruise meets and local residents.

"Sometimes a minority can ruin these events for the majority who just want to socialise with like-minded people. Noisy exhausts, crowds and speeding cars all have an impact on the surrounding neighbourhoods and can affect people’s quality of life."

Those who commit offences will be dealt with under the Road Traffic Act, or if they are negatively impacting on the surrounding communities, they will be dealt with via a tiered system.

This starts with an ASB letter followed by a Community Protection Warning and then a Community Protection Notice.

Drivers could also see their vehicles seized by police.

Inspector Arrowsmith added: “Please be assured our OPU team is ready to deal with any motorists who break the law either through dangerous driving or speeding or any onlookers through anti-social behaviour.

“Our interventions are borderless so all people, regardless of whether they reside in our force area or not will be dealt with in the same way.

“I would also like to encourage people to submit footage of any street racing or dangerous driving through our Op Snap portal and any anti-social behaviour via our online reporting system."