Gwent Police Launch Major Crackdown on Illegal Car Meets

Gwent Police have launched a proactive initiative to combat illegal car meets and street racing across the region. 🚨

Operation Wheeler, led by officers from the Roads Policing and Specialist Operations (RPSO) team, is tackling the anti-social and dangerous use of vehicles across Gwent and has already seen multiple arrests and convictions for those taking part in these meets.

382 illegal car meets were reported to Gwent Police between January 2020 and January 2025, with 144 reports being made last year. Car meets and street racing can have fatal consequences for those involved and the illegal and dangerous behaviour associated can have a ripple effect on the wider community.

The operation has been in place since July 2024.

RPSO Sergeant Mitchell Harris, who is the force lead for this operation, said:

“Operation Wheeler is about tackling the dangers that can come from illegal car meets and street racing, from the impact on other road users to noise pollution and the links to other criminal activities they can have.

“Illegal car meets are not just a nuisance; they pose serious risks to public safety and community wellbeing.

“Our goal is simple – we want to put the brakes on illegal car meets, street racing, and anti-social and dangerous driving and we’re working proactively with our partners to achieve this.”

Since the operation began, police have made significant progress including:

• One person convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following a collision at a car meet
• One person under investigation for dangerous driving following collision in Newport
• One person convicted of fraudulently obtaining an insurance policy by failing to disclose modifications
• Two people summoned to court for failing to identify drivers of vehicles that were driving dangerously
• Three people arrested for causing public nuisance and aiding and abetting dangerous driving/motor racing (All have been issued with a community protection warning relating to organising car meets)
• Four people arrested for dangerous driving (Three have been charged and one remains under investigation)
• Four further community protection warnings issued relating to organising car meets
• Eight insurance policies cancelled
• Eight vehicles seized
• Ten people charged to court for motor racing on public roads
• Thirty Section 59 warnings issued for vehicles used to cause distress, alarm or annoyance
• Thirty Traffic Offence Reports issued for Construction and Use offences
• Forty-one Section 172 requests (Requirement to Provide Driver Details) issued (Sixteen failed to reply and have been summoned to court for failing to identify a driver)
• Fifty-two Operation Wheeler warning letters sent to organisers and attendees

The operation involves close collaboration with local councils and partner agencies, with the shared objective of preventing death and serious injuries on Gwent roads linked to this behaviour.

To report illegal car meets and street racing, or anti-social and dangerous driving, call 101 or send a direct message to Gwent Police on Facebook or X. Always dial 999 in an emergency.