Warning sent to 50 drivers flouting car cruise ban

Police said officers have been clamping down on dangerous driving around Castle Donington

Warnings have been sent to 50 car cruisers after complaints of street racing and anti-social driving around a Leicestershire village.

Leicestershire Police officers issued letters to the owners of cars identified as breaking a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in Castle Donington during September.

The ban on car cruising was extended to cover the whole village in July.

The order allows drivers and spectators to be fined £100 if they gather in the area.

First issued in 2021 following years of complaints from residents over the gatherings, the PSPO was widened this summer to cover the entire village.

North West Leicestershire District Council said the order was intended to tackle nuisance and dangerous driving, such as racing and road blocking, as well as littering and noise disturbance from participants' car stereos.

In an update, North West Leicestershire officers said recent complaints had come over drivers on the A453, between the M1 at Junction 24 and the MOTO services.

A spokesperson said: “We are now starting to see the same vehicles involved. This has led to ongoing work being completed to target these individuals who appear to ignore the requests for their behaviour to stop.”

'Lives at risk'

New signage is being installed across the wider PSPO area as a “first warning” to would-be car cruisers.

As well as Leicestershire Police patrols, an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera and a CCTV camera has been funded by the council to enforce the ban.

The spokesperson added: “A gentle reminder to those that enjoy partaking in this type of behaviour - stop.

“I don't want to be the one telling your next of kin that you will not be returning home to them.

“Your behaviour has a huge impact on others. Stop putting yours and others' lives at risk.”