Matt Vickers leads a Westminster Hall debate calling for tougher measures to tackle off-road bikes on Tuesday 11 July.
There have been growing reports of young people on off-road bikes terrorising residents around Thornaby, and now in the centre of Stockton.
Up and down the country young people using unlicensed off-road vehicles have been sighted performing dangerous stunts, distracting or scaring drivers, misusing major roads and driving young families away from outdoor public spaces.
The individuals participating in the activity are often dressed in balaclavas, meaning they cannot be identified.
Matt has already been proactive around the matter, meeting with the Inspector of community policing for the Stockton District, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland Police Steve Turner, and raised the issue during a meeting with the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman.
Currently the proposed solution varies on location. Locally, it is recommended that residents continue to report any sightings, or suspicions of where the bikes are being stored, anonymously on the COPA app. This means police can search suspected garden sheds or garages. However, many have called for a national approach to give sufficient support and provide a framework to local authorities on how to tackle this growing issue.
Speaking before the debate, Matt Vickers said:
“Off-road bikes have become an everyday annoyance to my constituents. They speed down the centre of busy main roads, faces covered, and with complete ignorance of the highway code.
“The individuals riding around on them act as though they’re untouchable.
“It is imperative that the government treats off-road bikes with the same tough stance that we are taking against other anti-social behaviour, such as the commitment to banning NOS and increasing the fines for graffiti.
“This behaviour is dangerous, unneighbourly and frankly, illegal. The measures the police are able to respond with should reflect this.”
