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James Walshe on the act of trial by social media

IIf the online fury was anything to go by this month, all banger racers would have been arrested and sent to prison instantly. I refer to an incident where two stolen classics ended up on the banger track. Before the local police could turn their ignition keys and before any factual evidence had been presented, Facebook and Twitter were bristling with accusations, speculation and rage. We didn’t know who stole the cars and whether the criminals had any connection whatsoever to those at the wheel during the race. Yet the entire banger racing community was condemned and vilified.

We live in a country blessed with an extraordinarily good justice system. Sure, just like the BBC or the NHS, it’s not 100 percent perfect. But we are lucky to have institutions such as these. The total disregard for fairness and balance we saw online this month was unreal. The very people who name names and spew accusations before or during active court cases are the same ones who complain loudest when the case falls apart as a result, and justice is denied.

The immediacy of social media can be a fantastic tool in the fight for justice. But to accuse a whole sport of being complicit in criminal activity is wrong. Do I personally enjoy banger racing? Not really. But it’s a legal sport, like it or not and it’s a simple fact that some cars are past restoration. The community is well known for stripping useful parts from terminally rotten classics and often, racers own classics themselves. Let’s use social media as a force for good… to influence positive change, accuracy, and dignified understanding, whatever you’re into.

‘The banger racing community was vilified’