Yobs’ bikes to be destroyed if they terrorise communities under no-nonsense Labour plans
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper promises bold action to root out antisocial behaviour.
Yobs who race around terrified communities on off-road bikes would see their vehicles destroyed under Labour plans to crack down on antisocial behaviour.
Police would be given powers to crush dirt and quad bikes and hit offenders with tougher on-the-spot fines.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper wants to end the present system, where bikes are impounded for weeks before being sold at auction and ending up back on the streets.
There is strong concern about the risk of injury to riders and the public and the damage to parks, fields and private property.
Under the new plans, bikes could be destroyed after just 48 hours instead of being held for 14 days.
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Ms Cooper said: “Noisy off-road bikes speeding round local streets and neighbourhoods, deliberately disturbing and intimidating local residents, are a nightmare for communities.
"Yet too often the culprits get away with it again and again, and even when the police take action, the bikes still end up back on the streets.
“Cracking down on antisocial behaviour will be one of next Labour government’s first steps because everyone should feel safe on their streets.
"Labour will give police the powers they need to take illegal, dangerous and antisocial bikes off the streets for good, as well as tough measures to close drug dens.”
Labour says that fines for ignoring a police officer’s instructions to stop can be as low as £100. The party has promised to increase fines and will set a new level after staging a consultation.
The latest crime survey for England and Wales shows 35 percent of people experienced or witnessed some type of antisocial behaviour last year, with the police recording one million incidents. Around one in four people considered anti-social behaviour a “fairly or very big problem in their local area”.
Ms Cooper also wants to tackle “drug dealing blighting local communities”. Action is promised to give people more time to shut down “drug dens” in court.
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Public Space Protection Orders would also be fast-tracked to stamp out public drinking and drug use. She further promises “data-driven hotspot policing” to target the most prolific offenders when it comes to anti-social behaviour.
Earlier this year, when challenged on off-road bikes, Home Office minister Chris Philp said the Government was “committed to tackling and preventing antisocial behaviour” and acknowledged the impact it can have on people and communities.
He said that police, councils and agencies had been given powers to tackle problem behaviour, adding: “It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers depending on the specific circumstances.
"They are best placed to understand what is driving the behaviour in question, the impact that it is having, and to determine the most appropriate response.”
