ANTI-SOCIAL drivers who have been using Droitwich roads as a race track have been told they are not welcome in the town and will have action taken against them if they persist in speeding along its streets.
The vow comes from the police after incidents on two of the last three weekends on a stretch of road between the Big Bear Island (Stoney Bridge) and the Westlands.
On Sunday (February 15) and the following Saturday (February 21), up to 50 cars congregated in the area and, with the road unofficially blocked off, drivers – many in suped-up or modified cars – raced against each other, causing a nightmare for residents.
Sgt Sarah Kent from Droitwich Town Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “These drivers are putting their lives and the lives of others in danger.
“As well as the racing, we are seeing people come down to line the road to watch the action.
“They may be getting a few minutes of entertainment but if any of those drivers lose control or the cars roll, these spectators could be seriously injured or killed.”
And she said, it was not just about the dangers, it was also about residents’ quality of life.
“When the racing was taking place, there were people on the Westlands who, even with their doors and windows shut, could not hear their televisions because it was so loud.”
Drivers from Kidderminster and other parts of the West Midlands have descended on Droitwich to take part in the high-speed races. One theory is some injunctions taken out against ‘car cruisers’ in other areas in the region has led to them finding alternative places to compete and Droitwich has been one of them.
Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall councils, working in partnership with West Midlands Police, secured a ground-breaking three-year injunction from the High Court at the end of last year.
That forbids people from taking part in ‘car cruising’, as well as promoting, organising or publicising any events of that kind.
Breaching that injunction could see them arrested and brought before the courts.
Sgt Kent warned evidence had been collected over the last few weekends from officers, residents and even the West Mercia Police force helicopter which had filmed anti-social driving antics from the air.
She said, as well as the ongoing operations continuing over the coming weeks and months to clamp down on boy racers in Droitwich, if the behaviour persisted, the force could also apply for its own injunction to stamp out this menace.
She appealed to anyone with any information about anti-social driving and illegal racing to call Droitwich Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
