Boy racers' cars are to be crushed to stop them terrorising neighbourhoods with dangerous driving and blaring stereos.

But police admit some tearaways are revelling in the latest police crackdown - treating their cars being towed away as a badge of honour.

The tough action by police, which includes impounding boy racers' cars and threatening to crush them if the owners fail to pay fines, is threatening to become a status symbol in the way antisocial behaviour orders are reportedly being collected as thugs' trophies.

Surveys carried out last year showed many young tearaways saw Asbos as a badge of honour, which gave them "street cred", rather than a punishment.

Asbos, introduced in 1999, were designed to tackle misbehaviour that fell short of crime.

They are now a key part of the Government's "respect" agenda and thousands have been issued since the launch.

Insp Mark Trimmer, of West Downs Road Policing Department, has admitted the latest crackdown on antisocial drivers, which has resulted in dozens of confiscation orders being issued in the last three months, was not working as well as police would like.

He said: "Sadly, some young people see the vehicle being towed away as a badge of honour, which is a worry. They are not learning from their mistakes. We are working in partnership with councils and local action groups to target this problem.

"Just because they have got licences some people think they can do what they want when they quite clearly can't."

Sussex police officers have targeted hotspots across the county where young drivers are congregating and creating alarm, distress or annoyance to residents.

Warnings have been issued to drivers under section 59 of the Road Traffic Act.

If a second warning is given, the culprit's vehicle can be confiscated and, in some cases, scrapped.

Areas pinpointed as boy racer hotspots by police include Angmering, Splash Point in Worthing, West Green car park, Bewbush, and the A23 in Crawley, Staples car park, Sovereign Harbour and Prince William Parade in Eastbourne, Pelham car park in Hastings, Halfords car park in Bognor and the seafront road between Littlehampton and Rustington.

In Ringmer, East Sussex residents have been urged to write down registration numbers of speeding cars and report them to the police.

Last month 20 of the orders were issued in one week after people reported up to 50 cars at a time congregating in the Littlehampton East Green car park.

In the West Downs area of Sussex, 33 Section 59 orders have been issued and seven vehicles impounded from the beginning of June to the end of August this year.

Many of the car owners are waiting to find out if their cars will be crushed.

The initial warnings stay on police records for 12 months.

Recovery of the vehicles costs £112 and there is a £12 - £15 charge added each day.

If fines are not paid, the car is scrapped.

Insp Mark Piper, from Crawley, said most boy racers were 17 to 20-year-olds and did not have the driving experience to control a car at high speeds.

"Unqualified drivers are travelling at extremely dangerous speeds. There are going to be some horrendous smashes in due course.

"They are putting themselves and members of the public at risk because they can't be in control at those speeds."

Loft Longhurst, chairman of Ringmer Against Drivers Acting Recklessly (RADAR), said: "We are against boy racers and anybody who drives at speeds over the limit.

"They need to slow down for the protection of the public and the environment.

"We work with the police but whatever action they take is their decision."

Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of road safety campaign group Brake, said: "We need more restrictions in place to protect them, their young passengers and other road users, and to educate young drivers that a driving licence is a privilege, not a right."