Police crackdown on road crime as it triples

DRINK DRIVING AND MORE TO BE TARGETED TO MAKE STREETS SAFER

- JANE HAYNES People & Politics Editor

West Midlands Police officers conduct a mobile speed check

THE number of motorists prosecuted or fined for road crimes on West Midlands roads has tripled this year - with the police vowing to catch even more errant drivers in the months ahead.

The rate of prosecution locally is now so high that the courts are struggling to process them quickly enough.

West Midlands force’s Chief Constable Craig Guildford has met with court officials to ensure enough sessions are available to deal with the surge in cases.

The rise comes after the police locally pledged to do more to bring criminal and reckless drivers to book amid soaring complaints from other road-users and concern about high numbers of deaths and serious injuries caused by speeding, distracted, drugged or drunk drivers, often without insurance or driving while banned.

The numbers show the impact.

According to new police data, the number of prosecutions of motorists in the West Midlands has risen from about 1,800 a week in 2024 to around 5,000 a week now - with plans to increase that to 7,000 a year in 2026.