Injunction temporarily bans north London car meets

Image showing crowds of people milling between cars at a retail park in Enfield. A Poundland store can be seen in the background
Image caption,

A gathering of members of the group A10 Meets in Enfield was closed down by the Met in October 2023

  • Published

Unauthorised car meets will be temporarily banned across Enfield after the High Court granted an interim injunction to Enfield Council.

The council previously said groups of people wanting to "show off their cars" were illegally gathering near the A10.

The injunction will give police and the council extra powers to deal with dangerous driving and antisocial behaviour at such events in the borough including arrest, the council said.

It announced the injunction was granted on Wednesday and will come into force within the next few days once finalised by the court.

'Compelling evidence'

In a statement on its website, the council said in the past two years illegal events had grown in number and size, which it argued increased the potential for accidents to happen and antisocial behaviour to take place.

It added the application for an interim injunction was successful thanks to "compelling evidence provided by the council, police, businesses, and residents".

In 2023, police officers seized at least 60 cars, issued more than 300 warnings to drivers and handed out more than 200 summonses for offences such as modifying exhausts on the A10 at Enfield according to the Metropolitan Police.

The council also previously introduced a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in several locations in and around Enfield in 2021, which had the effect of banning "vehicle cruising".

The leader of Enfield Council, Ergin Erbil, said the injunction was an important step.

He added: "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."

The council has urged residents to report such car meets to the police promptly by calling 101 during the event or submitting a report online.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk, external