Cameras erected to banish “boy racers” tearing up and down a busy dual carriageway late at night have made a speedy return after being prematurely removed.

The AI-assisted device was installed on Crossways Boulevard in Greenhithe in 2022 after residents complained of sleepless nights owing to cars using the road as a race track.

It saw an immediate reduction in complaints but at the beginning of the year Dartford council removed the cameras believing they were no longer needed – only for the racing to immediately start again.

One resident said: “The vehicles are very noisy, exhausts popping. It keeps me awake. It was such a shame the camera was taken away.”

While another added: “I can hear them and takes me ages to go to sleep.”

Chairman of Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council Peter Harman said: “The cameras were very effective in stopping the nuisance drivers.

“It completely changed the environment for residents after massive amounts of noise and disturbance for so long.“

“Residents have been much happier since the matter has been dealt with.”

The problems, which typically arise over the weekends, sees modified cars whizzing up and down the busy dual carriageway between the Dartford Crossing and Bluewater shopping centre at speeds of up to 80mph. The speed limit is 40mph.

At the height of the problem in 2022, the boy racer hotspot saw up to 200 vehicles racing every Friday and Saturday between 9pm and 1am, with some comparing it to a “knock-off Fast and Furious”.

It led to more than 500 complaints to the council.

And despite the multiple dispersal orders from police and tireless work from the Dartford Council the problem persisted.

But the issue was then largely eradicated after AI camera technology was installed by Kingdom Systems to deter racers.

Inspired by the success from the installation of cameras in some of Dartford’s fly-tipping hotspots, the council worked with the security company to rollout the camera technology to the problem area to help catch dangerous drivers in October 2022.

Within the first week 43 fixed penalty notices and 28 community protection warnings were issued.

Speaking at the time, Leader of Dartford council Jeremy Kite said they were “determined to end this nuisance” and had deployed the cameras to assist the police with the enforcement of a new public space protection order (PSPO) it had implemented.

The order will give the council and police new powers, including the ability to dish out on-the-spot fines of up to £100 – reduced to £60 if paid within 10 days.

Cllr Kite said: “Since the camera was installed we have seen a huge reduction in the number of anti-social behaviour complaints but we’re not complacent and will continue to monitor the deployment.”

He added: “For too long street racers and nuisance drivers have been wrecking the lives of local people.

“They were a constant danger to local drivers. Now that we’ve worked with Kingdom to install these cameras, and launched our PSPO we have stopped these meet-ups and put up a deterrent going forward.”

Meanwhile, council documents at the time boasted: “Since the erection of this camera there have been no calls to Kent Police or Dartford CSU (Community Safety Unit) in relation to any noise caused by nuisance vehicles at Crossways Boulevard to date.

“We've put a lot of time and resources into this but we’ve got the outcome we wanted and it’s actually been really beneficial to the local community because we know it was causing them significant concern.”

But at the end of 2023 the cameras were removed and the problem returned.

Dartford council has now been forced to bring the cameras back.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “The introduction of an AI camera at Crossways Boulevard, coupled with the introduction of a PSPO, had a tremendous impact on cutting street racing and nuisance vehicles in the area.

“Following a six-month period without any reports, the camera was redeployed to a fly-tipping hot spot in December, and for two months there was no further activity at Crossways Boulevard.

“Following concerns over nuisance vehicles and racing returning in February, a new AI camera was installed. Since then there have been no street racing reports in the area.

“The AI cameras have been an effective deterrent against a range of antisocial and criminal behaviours, and their use is under constant review to ensure the borough is kept safe.”