Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, has reiterated his warning to reckless drivers and illegal street racers: if you engage in criminal and anti-social behaviour and put people’s lives in danger, you will face the full force of the law.
The PCC joined West Midlands Police over the weekend as part of Operation Hercules, an initiative that continues to deal with people involved in illegal car cruising and street racing events.
Tackling dangerous driving is one of PCC Simon Foster’s top three priorities as he continues to work with the force to make sure there’s a reduction in the number of people tragically and avoidably killed and seriously injured on our roads.
Street racing gatherings can attract up to 400 people and vehicles on any given night but, thanks to the success of Operation Hercules and a new, permanent civil injunction banning such meet-ups in the West Midlands, offenders are now regularly being bought to justice.
Last week, three organisers behind illegal street racing events were jailed for more than 10 years – a result PCC Simon Foster heralded as an “important outcome that sends out a salutary warning’.
In February this year, a new three-year ban on street racing across Birmingham and the Black Country was granted by a judge until 2027.
The order, an extension of a series of interim injunctions put in place across the West Midlands, prohibits drivers, riders or passengers participating in racing anywhere in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall.
Since the start of the year, more than 30 arrests have been made for breaching civil injunctions, with each offender being found in contempt of court and receiving suspended prison sentences and significant fines.
Sergeant Adrian Brown, from the West Midlands Police Road Harm Prevention Team, spoke about the success of Operation Hercules and the sheer devastation street racing and car cruising can cause.
Speaking during a ride-along with the PCC, Sgt Brown said: “Operation Hercules is really gaining some momentum as an organisation and, with the powers we’ve got with the civil injunction to arrest people and our Section 59 powers to seize and destroy vehicles, it’s having significant success rates and we’re making a real difference to the public.
“I can’t stress enough how dangerous, how inconsiderate, how reckless and the impact that street racing and car cruising has on everybody – the wider community, families when there’s serious collisions. It’s unacceptable. It can’t be tolerated and West Midlands Police are dealing with it.”
In the last quarter, more than 450 drivers have been given anti-social behaviour warning letters as part of Op Hercules, while around 30 offenders have attended bespoke educational courses warning them of the impact of driving recklessly and at excessive speeds. None of those identified have gone on to breach community protection warnings.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, who helped to launch Operation Hercules thanks to a five-figure grant, said: “Preventing and tackling crime, illegal street racing and anti-social behaviour and reducing the number of people tragically and avoidably killed and seriously injured on our roads is a top priority of mine.
“That is why I have been out with West Midlands Police’s Operation Hercules to see for myself the action they are taking to target people involved in illegal street racing.
“The message is clear, illegal street racing will not be tolerated in the West Midlands and if you participate in this criminal and anti-social behaviour you will be held to account and face the serious consequences of your actions, including seizure of your vehicle and imprisonment.”
You can help West Midlands Police tackle dangerous driving by submitting dashcam footage of anyone committing driving offences on our roads. It forms part of the PCC-funded Op Snap campaign, here.
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