Enfield Council has successfully secured an interim injunction by the High Court to prohibit ‘car meets’ across the borough.
The injunction, granted on 4 December, will come into force within the next few days once finalised and approved by the Court.
Compelling evidence provided by the Council, police, businesses, and residents led to the successful outcome. It will give the police extra powers to deal with dangerous driving and antisocial behaviour at unauthorised car meets.
Perpetrators taking part in car meets could face arrest and criminal sanctions including imprisonment.
The injunction will apply across the borough to protect residents, whose lives have been continually blighted by these events, which cause excessive noise, danger to other road users, damage and/or risk of damage to property, and general nuisance to residents and businesses.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Enforcement, Cllr Gina Needs, said: “I am delighted that the court has listened to the detailed evidence presented by the Council, police, residents and local business owners, and have taken positive action by granting an injunction to stop those who continue to make our residents lives a misery by taking part in car meets.
“The Council is aware this antisocial behaviour has a huge impact on residents and places an increased burden on police resources, which is why we have taken this decisive action.
“The granting of an injunction is great news as it will provide the police with extended authority and power to deal with this illegal and antisocial behaviour.”
Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Ergin Erbil, said: “The successful granting of an injunction is an important step towards eradicating antisocial behaviour associated with car meets. We will continue our ongoing dialogue with Transport for London, to investigate long term solutions as part of our determination to resolve this important issue and to improve community safety and keep our residents safe.”
Car meets are organised unauthorised events where drivers show off their often-modified cars that are raced on roads and in car parks where dangerous stunts are performed.
In the past two years, the illegal events have progressively grown in the borough and are attended by increasing numbers of drivers and spectators, which increases the potential for accidents to happen and antisocial behaviour to take place.
At a time of financial difficulty, business owners are also having to implement measures to try and restrict these activities within their car parks at a cost, to protect their customers and staff.
The Council will continue to collaborate with private landowners to deter car meets and antisocial driving, including installing measures such as cameras and physical barriers.
Car meets are often organised at short notice on social media platforms, making it essential that the Council and police to work together to respond swiftly and maintain public safety.
Residents are advised to report car meets to the police promptly by calling 101 during the event or by making a report on the Metropolitan Police website.
To see other ways in which residents can help clamp down on these activities and to find further information on how the Council is tackling car meets click here.