A POLICE taskforce which tackles illegal street racing across the region has accelerated to 100 convictions.
Since January 2025 Op Hercules at West Midlands Police have successfully taken to court and convicted 100 individuals for road offences including dangerous driving with in excess of 60 further cases at first appearance in court or trial.
As well as several prison sentences offenders have also been convicted to 676 weeks suspended sentences and have been banned from the roads for 818 months.
A total of 219 points has been racked up and fines have totalled £37,446.
Offenders have had to carry out 377 days of rehabilitation activity as well as 3,550 hours of unpaid work in the community.
There have also been 350 motorists reported to the Central Ticket Office for offences including defective tyres and illegal tints and 58 vehicles seized.
This includes a grey Seat Ibiza seized from a 20-year-old man after it was captured on dashcam footage clocking up more than 85 miles per hour on the A38 Sutton Coldfield Bypass, last August.
In March Birmingham Crown Court he was banned him from driving for 12 months and the judge issued a deprivation order granting police ownership of the vehicle.
The vehicle had its roof cut off at Binley Fire Station in Coventry by West Midlands Fire Service for training purposes.
Sergeant Ade Brown, from Operation Hercules, said: “We need motorists to understand that we won’t tolerate illegal street racing or cruising on the region’s roads and will take action against motorists who flout the law and put other road users at risk.
“Our ultimate aim is to keep people safe. People have been killed and seriously injured while street racing and it’s simply unacceptable to put other motorists and pedestrians at risk in such a reckless way.
“In this case as well as being disqualified from driving, the judge issued a deprivation order granting us ownership of the vehicle. Once in our hands the vehicles will be ultimately crushed or will be used for training purposes.
“We work closely with our partners on a range of tactics to identify, disrupt and enforce against those taking part or gathering to observe it. Our priority is keeping the roads safe for all.”
Operation Hercules is an ongoing campaign to target people involved in street racing or car cruising where vehicles are driven in an anti-social or dangerous manner.
The team won a prestigious award for innovation and excellence at the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Roads Policing Conference in Manchester last year.
There is a ban on street racing in Birmingham and the Black Country due to High Court rulings and 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.
The injunctions prohibit people driving, being a passenger or rider at a gathering where there is motor racing, stunts or other dangerous or obstructive driving.
Incidents of street racing should be reported to police by calling 101 or via Live Chat on the forces website.
In an emergency always call 999.
