New powers have been authorised to clampdown on dangerous driving and late-night car meets by noisy "boy racers".

Police are set to be handed more "tools" to break up unauthorised gatherings in Dartford involving modified vehicles revving engines and driving at dangerous "time-trial" speeds.

Greenhithe residents say they are frequently kept up at night by loud street racing in Crossways Boulevard with some comparing it to a “knock-off Fast and Furious” in reference to the popular street racing movies.

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.

There have also been reports of cars using the ScrewFix car park at Quadrant Court, or Asda to perform “driving stunts” such as wheel spinning and “doughnutting”.

Dartford council’s cabinet met last Thursday where it set out its intention to introduce a public space protection order (PSPO) to tackle anti-social gatherings.

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.

Breach is considered a criminal offence and could be subject to prosecution leading to a maximum penalty of £1,000.

The order outlines a list of behaviours that vehicle owners would no longer be able to carry out, without facing punishment.

These include car cruising, wheel spins, racing and performing stunts, along with the recording of these types of activities.

It follows a recent public consultation on the PSPO which received a total of 108 responses, of which 91% were said to be in favour.

Greenhithe & Knockhall Cllr David Mote (Con) said the issue dated back many years and was of increasing concern for residents in his area.

He said the order had been a "long time coming" and praised the work of the council's community safety partnership in helping put it together.

"We have been pushing for this PSPO for about five years and it is fantastic that it is now in place," Cllr Mote said.

"We originally only wanted it on the dual carriageway [of Crossways Boulevard] but decided it was not good enough and put it across the whole borough."

Cllr Mote added he hoped it would make Dartford "as toxic as possible" for drivers who want to come and engage in this type of activity.

So far police have only been able to issue dispersal orders to try to tackle the problem.

Between November 2010 and October 2021 nearly 200 calls were made to police complaining of anti-social behaviour on Dartford roads.

Just under half of those calls (45%) relate to Crossways Boulevard.

Councillors and residents speak about the problems on Crossways Boulevard

On Friday, an additional 48-hour dispersal order was issued following more reports of modified vehicles "revving their engines, hitting their horns, and wheel spinning" around the multi-story car park behind Bluewater's M&S on Friday.

Both marked and unmarked police vehicles were deployed to the area over the weekend and nuisance drivers moved on.

Inspector Trevor Jenner, of the Dartford Community Safety Unit, said: "From 8pm on Friday our patrols targeted nuisance drivers in Greenhithe with a 48-hour dispersal order.

"The order authorised police officers and PCSOs to direct anyone found driving anti-socially or in a way likely to cause alarm or distress, to leave the area and not return without risking arrest.

"Between 10pm and 10.30pm on Friday, May 27, we received two reports from members of the public regarding anti-social use of cars in Greenhithe. Patrols attended however the vehicles had left prior to their arrival."

He added: "The actions of a small minority of people behaving irresponsibly can have a big impact on a community.

"We will continue to use dispersal orders in the area and those who persistently cause a nuisance risk having their vehicles seized".

Speaking at Thursday's cabinet meeting, council leader Jeremy Kite urged more patience and explained the PSPO was "only part of the solution".

Cllr Kite said the police needed a "huge range of things to throw at the problem", of which this new order would form part.

Last month Transport Secretary Grant Shapps declared he wants to “banish the boy racer” as he announced plans to deploy noise cameras to catch “rowdy drivers”.

His department has invited MPs to enter a competition to find the most noisy streets with four areas to be chosen to take part in a £300,000 trial of the innovative tech.

Asked whether noise cameras might be an additional tool to put at the council and police's disposal in Dartford, Cllr Kite responded "nothing was off the table" – but it was not something currently being considered.