Officers from Warwickshire Police served injunctions on 280 people who were involved in illegal cruising at Hams Hall distribution park, Lea Marston on Sunday night, March 7.

These were the latest to be served since Warwickshire County Council secured an injunction last year and if anyone re-offends before August 2011 they could face tough penalties including having their vehicles seized, fines and even a prison sentence.

During the pre planned operation officers also made one arrest, seized one vehicle and detected a number of traffic offences.

Inspector Robin Clifton, who led the operation, said: "illegal car cruises at Hams Hall have had a detrimental effect on people who live, work or travel in the area.

"Since Warwickshire County Council, working with police and other agencies, secured the injunction we have been able to significantly address this anti-social and often dangerous activity and we will continue to do so.

"The action taken on Sunday night shows the commitment towards enforcing this injunction. Those who were served with a copy of the injunction who and return to the site for the purpose of such anti social behaviour will be guilty of contempt of court and may face tougher consequences."

Note to editors:

According to Schedule 2 of the injunction, (1) a car cruise means ‘a congregation of drivers of two or more motor vehicles (including motorcycles) between the hours of 7pm and 7am on the public highway or at any place to which the public have access within the part of the boundaries of Warwickshire, at which any such driver (and/or passenger and/or any driver and/or passenger of any other vehicle) perform any of the activities set out a para.2 below, so as, by such conduct, to cause any of the following:
(i) Excessive noise; (ii) danger to other road users (including pedestrians); (iii) damage or the risk of damage to private property; (iv) litter; (v) any nuisance to another person not participating in the car-cruise.

2. The activities referred to at para.1, above, are: driving at excessive speed,
driving in convoy; racing other motor vehicles; performing stunts in motor vehicles; sounding horns or playing radios; dropping litter; shouting or swearing at, or abusing, threatening or otherwise intimidating (including by the use of sexual language or making sexual suggestions) another person; participating in a car cruise.

3. A person participates in a car cruise when he/she is the driver of, or passenger in, a vehicle to which paras.1-2 apply, and the term ‘participating in a car-cruise’ shall be interpreted accordingly.