Wannabe boy racers fined for reckless tricks caught on camera near Buckingham Palace

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

Four drivers have been fined after being caught on camera performing burnouts, doughnuts and revving their engines at a late-night meet less than a mile from Buckingham Palace. 

The wannabe boy racers were fined after triggering acoustic noise cameras off Pall Mall, Westminster council said.

The council said noise levels hit 90 decibels which they said is as loud as an operating jackhammer or standing next to a passing London underground train. 

Some of the cars at the meet-up included a highly tuned BMW Coupe and a Mercedes C63 AMG worth almost £100,000, the council said.

Footage shows a large crowd of onlookers surrounding the cars, with a vehicle narrowly missing the onlookers as it turns in circles.

Drivers performing burnouts and doughnuts near Buckingham Palace in August (Picture: Westminster council)

The recordings show the incident took place on the Sunday of the August Bank Holiday weekend. 

Westminster City councillor and cabinet member for public protection Aicha Less said the style of driving was “incredibly dangerous” and “unwelcome” in the borough.

She said: “If you are looking to meet up with cars like this, our streets are not the place for it.” 

The acoustic noise cameras were installed in 2021 and activate when they detect noises above 80 to 90 decibels within a 10 to 15 metre range.

They use AI to differentiate an engine’s sound from a typical car horn by monitoring the sound patterns, according to the council. 

This is the latest in a string of enforcement operations between the local authority and the Met to tackle anti-social or dangerous driving in the borough.

Pictured top: Four drivers were fined after being caught doing burnouts and doughnuts at an unregistered meet up near Buckingham Palace (Picture: Westminster council)