Drivers attending illegal car meets could now face on-the-spot fines of up to £100 after a local council introduced tough new rules aimed at stamping out dangerous gatherings.
Swindon Borough Council has formally launched a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) designed to crack down on unauthorised car meets across the borough, following a surge in incidents this year.
The measure, which has been developed in partnership with Wiltshire Police, comes after authorities recorded 60 separate car meets since January 2025, many of which have led to near misses, complaints from residents and damage to public spaces.
Industrial estates and public roads have been among the worst-affected areas, with gatherings often taking place late at night and spilling into nearby residential communities.
Anyone breaching the order will now face a £100 fixed penalty notice, reduced to £75 if paid within 14 days.
The council confirmed the new enforcement powers were approved yesterday (January 14), describing the situation as an ongoing anti-social behaviour issue that requires firm action.
A public consultation held ahead of the PSPO’s introduction showed strong public backing for the tougher approach, with more than two-thirds of respondents supporting the move.
The new order forms part of Swindon Borough Council’s wider efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour, following the recent rollout of another PSPO covering Swindon town centre and the Broadgreen area.
Under the new rules, drivers can be fined £100 for breaking the protection order
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SWINDON BOROUGH COUNCIL
Council officers have also been liaising with Trafford Council in Greater Manchester, which has been grappling with similar problems linked to illegal vehicle gatherings.
Councillor Jim Grant, Swindon Borough Council‘s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, said the new powers were essential to protect residents and improve safety.
He said: “This new PSPO is a vital step in our work to make Swindon safer for everyone. Unauthorised car meets cause real harm and disruption to communities by putting lives at risk and damaging our environment.
“Tackling anti-social behaviour will help us build a fairer Swindon, and this new order builds on our wider work to protect public spaces, support residents and ensure that everyone feels safe where they live and work.”
Car cruising would be considered anti-social behaviour under the new proposals | GETTY
Wiltshire Police have welcomed the additional enforcement tools, warning that illegal car meets place a heavy burden on officers while posing serious risks to the public.
Inspector Joe Senior said: “We appreciate the significant distress that unauthorised car meets can have on local residents and we welcome these additional powers.
“Unauthorised car meets are a drain on police resources and a source of community complaints and we have seen examples of dangerous driving endangering other road users at previous car meets.”
He confirmed the order had been shaped by feedback from residents and partner organisations.
The police force will be able to issue fines for drivers caught conducting anti-social behaviour
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ESSEX POLICE“This PSPO has been introduced following extensive consultation with our partners and local community, and we will seek to use these additional powers whenever appropriate,“ he added.
Under the new rules, it will now be illegal to organise, promote or attend an unauthorised car meet in Swindon. Drivers can also be fined for travelling to events or allowing their vehicle to be used for participating or spectating.
Enforcement will be carried out by both Wiltshire Police and council officers using patrols, CCTV and body-worn cameras.
Warning signs have already been installed at known hotspots, including Ashworth Road, Ramsden Road, Kembrey Street, Elgin Drive and several industrial estates.
