Swindon Borough Council has introduced new enforcement powers aimed at curbing dangerous and unauthorised car meets across the town, following a rise in incidents and growing concern from residents and businesses.
Working alongside Wiltshire Police, the council has brought in a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) designed to prevent gatherings that have been linked to reckless driving, near misses and damage to public spaces.
Figures show that since January 2025, around 60 car meets have been reported in Swindon. Many have taken place on industrial estates and in public areas, often late at night, causing disruption to nearby communities and placing road users at risk.
The decision follows a public consultation, which found more than two-thirds of respondents were in favour of tougher action. The new order also forms part of the council’s wider approach to tackling anti-social behaviour, building on a separate PSPO already in place covering Swindon town centre and Broadgreen.
Swindon Borough Council has also drawn on the experience of Trafford Council in Greater Manchester, where similar issues with unauthorised car meets have been reported.
Councillor Jim Grant, the council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, said the move was about protecting people and public spaces.
“This PSPO is an important step in making Swindon safer for everyone,” he said. “Unauthorised car meets cause genuine harm by putting lives at risk, creating disruption for communities and damaging the environment.
“Addressing anti-social behaviour helps us build a fairer Swindon. This order strengthens our wider work to support residents, protect shared spaces and make sure people feel safe where they live and work. Working closely with Wiltshire Police, we will use these powers where necessary to hold those responsible to account.”
Inspector Joe Senior, based in Swindon, welcomed the additional powers, describing unauthorised car meets as a persistent issue.
“These events can cause significant distress to local residents and take up a large amount of police time,” he said. “We have seen dangerous driving at previous car meets that has put other road users at risk.
“This order has been introduced after extensive discussion with partners and the community, and it gives us further options to deal with the problem when appropriate.”
The PSPO gives police officers and designated council enforcement staff clearer authority to intervene and prevent unauthorised car meets. Anyone found breaching the order could face a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice, reduced to £75 if paid within 14 days.
The order makes it illegal to organise, promote or attend an unauthorised car meet, to travel to such an event in a participating vehicle, or to allow a vehicle to be used or parked for the purpose of taking part or spectating.
Enforcement will be supported by patrols, CCTV and body-worn cameras. Clear signage has been installed in known hotspot areas, including Ashworth Road, Ramsden Road, Kembrey Street, Elgin Drive, Stirling Road on South Marston Industrial Estate, Edison Road on Dorcan Industrial Estate and Newcombe Drive at Hawksworth.
Residents are encouraged to report suspected unauthorised car meets directly to Wiltshire Police.
