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Anti-Bike Vigilantes Seriously Injure Rambler
Vigilantes opposed to the use of rural land by young motorcycle scramblers have been involved in what can only be described as "attempted murder".
Large, sharpened steel spikes around 9 inches long, have been manufactured from welded steel and implanted into the ground alongside the trail used by local kids.
According to local TV news, to date, no young bikers have been killed or seriously injured but a female walker has trodden on one of the 1/2 inch metal spikes which subsequently punctured right through her foot. She will be lucky if she's not injured for life.
A man and his dog were also walking and the spikes even damaged a police car called to attend the area. Notts MAG has already discussed the issue of "rogue bikers" - usually children under 16 using possibly stolen bikes on and around the local pit tips and adjacent land.
The clear answer, as demonstrated successfully by Durham Constabulary is firstly to have suitably a trained and equipped bike division, but secondly and more importantly, to provide adequate facilities which can be used without causing problems to residents.
Confiscating property, fines etc. simply DO NOT work and, as it appears, just make the problem even worse.
Confiscating bikes presumes that the offenders have no compulsion against going out and stealing a replacement. For all the talk about social inclusion by local councils their current policy of discrimination and social exclusion for youngsters is reaping sadly predictable results.
Whilst ever powerful lobby groups such as ramblers and walkers appropriate mining land regeneration cash this problem will exist. Until then it is perhaps only a matter of time before some young motorcyclist adds to the KSI statistics for the area. [From Notts MAG website]
Editors note: -
Whilst on the subject of bikes being confiscated, I wonder if anyone can provide me with the relevant part of the Act/s under which these confiscations take place, which empower the police to do so AND repeals both the Magna Carta as well as the Bill of Rights Act 1689.
Personally I would be taking out a prosecution for theft and of breach of the Police Act against the Chief Constable should such an event happen to me.
Any thoughts?
Send them to: - communications-officer@mag-uk.org
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