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Police clamp down on mini-motor craze

From the Oxford Mail, first published Saturday 8th Jul 2006.

Police are clamping down on mini-motorbike riders who are causing mayhem on an Oxford estate.

Two of the tiny motorised bikes and a trail bike have been seized from young people caught racing them without helmets in Barton.

It is illegal to use the machines on the road and police decided to crack down after members of the community raised concerns about their use.

The miniature bikes can reach speeds of up to 30mph and police say they have seen a significant increase in the number of them on the roads in the last year.

Sgt Claire Grant said: "Teenagers have been riding the bikes on the roads in an antisocial manner causing a nuisance and potential danger to other members of the community.

"We have to consider the safety and the well being of the community as a whole and these people need to consider this when they are using these machines."

"We have seen a big rise in the number of complaints we have had from the community about it over the last year across the city and we are adopting a zero tolerance policy."

The mini-motorbikes can be bought for as little as £100 and can be used legally on private land. There is no need to pass a test to ride them.

Police are planning to deliver 15,000 leaflets to houses in East Oxford.

The leaflets explain the antisocial behaviour laws associated with riding mini-motorbikes and warn of the dangers of riding them.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith is campaigning for the law to be tightened on mini-motorbikes.

He said: "I'm very pleased the police are taking action. I've been getting a lot of complaints about the danger and noise of children on these mini-motorbikes, especially in Barton.

"These machines can be lethal, and I am pressing the Government to tighten up the law to make it easier for the police to catch the culprits and get them prosecuted.

"Parents have a responsibility here too.

"They shouldn't be letting youngsters have these machines unless they have somewhere entirely safe and legal to ride them."

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