Police have seized four vehicles for breaching section 59 warnings following reports of up to 100 cars gathering at a car meet in the Black Country.

The force's traffic unit team teamed up with officers from the Road Harm Team on Sunday night and seized the vehicles following a large gathering at a car park near Mucklow Hill, Halesowen.

As well as seizing cars they issued a number of section 59 warnings to drivers. This means if they are spotted driving a vehicle recklessly within the next 12 months they can have their vehicle seized and, if found in breach of the street cruising injunction, will be arrested.

There is a ban on street racing in the Black Country following a High Court ruling. The injunction prohibits people driving, being a passenger or rider at a gathering where there is motor racing or motor stunts or other dangerous or obstructive driving. It covers the whole of the boroughs of Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall.

The injunction further prohibits people driving or being a passenger or rider at a gathering where there is motor racing or motor stunts or other dangerous or obstructive driving. Mark Campbell, lead for Operation Hercules, said:

“We seized more vehicles in our latest operation and issued a number of section 59 warnings. Operation Hercules is our ongoing action to target people involved in street racing or car cruising where vehicles are driven in an anti-social or dangerous manner.

"We have the power to arrest suspects or issue Section 59 notices which means a vehicle can be seized if spotted being driven recklessly again within 12 months. 

“We won’t tolerate illegal street racing or cruising on the region’s roads. People have been killed and seriously injured at these types of events in the past and our ultimate aim is to keep people safe. 

“We work closely with our partners on a range of tactics to identify, disrupt and enforce against those taking part or observing. Our priority is keeping the roads safe for all.”

Anyone breaching the ban will be in contempt of court and could face penalties including imprisonment, a fine, or an order to have their assets seized. More details are available online.

Incidents of street racing should be reported via Live Chat on the West Midlands Police website or by calling 101.