Southend Council has issued dozens of fines to car cruisers after scouring CCTV footage from recent seafront unofficial meets.

Following complaints from residents and businesses, a public spaces protection order came into force last April to target anti-social and dangerous behaviour at car meets.

This includes excessive noise from modifications and dangerous driving, as well as verbal abuse, intimidation and disruptive behaviour.

Following two car meets on February 24 and March 22, council officers reviewed CCTV footage and dished out 41 fines with drivers ordered to pay £100 each.

Simon Ford, head of community safety at Southend Council, said: “The public spaces protection order is not a ban on car meets and people who come to our seafront and drive and show their vehicles sensibly, respectfully and safely have nothing to fear from the spaces protection order; it is simply there to deter and address the antisocial behaviours that have a harmful effect on others.

“However, anyone who comes to the city of Southend intending to drive recklessly, put themselves or others at risk of harm, or behave in an antisocial way should be aware that they will be dealt with swiftly and firmly.

“These orders are a crucial step towards ensuring our public spaces are enjoyed responsibly and safely by residents, drivers and visitors.

“Our extensive high-definition CCTV network means we can review footage after suspected breaches and still issue fixed penalty notices retrospectively. The 41 notices highlight our commitment to enforcing when needed.”

Chief superintendent Waheed Khan, south Essex policing area commander, added: “We know Southend is a frequent destination for car enthusiasts; the vast majority of whom behave appropriate and add to the atmosphere in the city.

“But we also know events such as these have led to antisocial behaviour in the past and we’ll work with our partners at Southend Council to ensure the strongest possible action is taken on those people behaving that way.

“Especially as we enter the spring and summer season, we all want families visiting Southend to enjoy their time in the city. It’s a great destination with a lively atmosphere and we want to keep it that way.”