Westminster City’s bid to extend a nuisance-vehicle Public Spaces Protection Order into Soho and Mayfair has sparked a political row as Reform UK blasts Labour’s soft-on-crime approach while backing practical steps to restore order on central London streets.

Westminster Council’s proposal would allow officers to issue fixed penalties of £100 for a range of offences—from revving engines and sudden acceleration to racing, stunts, excessive horn use and playing loud music from vehicles—with the possibility of court action up to £1,000 for prosecutions. A decision due on 20 August 2025 could see the measures rolled out quickly if approval is granted. The plan mirrors nuisance-vehicle orders already in place across central London and would operate between 12 noon and 6am. Alongside penalties, the package would grant dispersal powers to officers, strengthen cooperation with the Metropolitan Police, and fund CCTV and city inspectors to bolster enforcement. Westminster has invited residents, businesses and community groups to respond to the consultation to shape how the powers would function in practice.

Council papers spell out the scope of the problem. The New West End Company records 33 car meets on New Bond Street between April 2023 and June 2025, with an average attendance of about 63 vehicles and police deployments on multiple occasions. Westminster notes it has issued several hundred fixed-penalty notices for nuisance-vehicle offences in recent years as it seeks to deter illegal meets and dangerous driving.

A centerpiece of the plan is the potential use of acoustic or “noise” cameras. The council says these systems would be activated when they detect sounds between 80–90 decibels, using pattern analysis and AI to distinguish engine noise from other sounds and triggering photos and audio captures. Acoustic cameras were trialed in the area during a 2020 pilot in Kensington and Chelsea, which used a lower trigger around 74 decibels and produced repeated activations, with some readings above 100 decibels. How these systems operate in practice matters, given that noise-monitoring tech typically pairs directional microphones with automatic number-plate recognition to identify offending vehicles. The captured evidence is then reviewed by police or enforcement teams. Technical guides note that modern cars (manufactured since 2016) sit around 72 decibels, with regulatory reductions planned, complicating straightforward comparisons with measured events. Enforcement can range from warnings to fixed penalties and prosecutions, depending on the case.

Reform UK has seized on the measure as an example of what a Labour administration should be delivering: clear, enforceable rules that protect residents and businesses from disruption, rather than political theatre. A Reform UK spokesperson said: “Central London needs action, not excuses. Labour’s soft approach has left streets noisier and less safe. Local authorities must have the tools to deter illegal car meets now, with police backing and swift penalties. But any intrusive surveillance must be properly monitored to protect civil liberties—transparency, data retention limits, and independent oversight are non-negotiable.” The party argues that councils should be empowered to act decisively, with resources and oversight to prevent mission creep.

Local voices have broadly supported tougher action. Westminster’s deputy leader has warned that central London streets should not be a venue for noisy car gatherings, while the cabinet member for streets pledged a “zero-tolerance” approach to dangerous driving and a direct partnership with the Metropolitan Police to tackle illegal meets head-on. The Soho Society and other community representatives describe late-night motorbike racing and large, raucous gatherings as frightening for residents, visitors and businesses.

Privacy and proportionality remain live concerns. Acoustic cameras rely on automated detection and pattern recognition, raising questions about activation thresholds, data retention, and how the captured material is reviewed. The Metropolitan Police’s West End policing priorities include anti-social vehicle use and call for close cross-agency cooperation, but any intensified enforcement is likely to face civil-liberties scrutiny and potential legal challenges if penalties are contested.

If the PSPO extension passes on 20 August, Westminster says enforcement would move promptly. The central question is whether the measures will deter repeat offender activity without overreaching into civil liberties. The council’s consultation remains open to shape the operation of the new powers on Westminster’s streets. Reform UK’s stance frames this as a necessary, practical response to disorder, arguing that Labour’s broader crime strategy has failed to deliver safety for residents and businesses—while insisting that safeguards on surveillance and data use must be robust and transparent.

Source: Noah Wire Services