Police call for help to curb ‘nuisance’ bikers

JON MACPHERSON

POLICE have launched an appeal to identify ‘nuisance’ quad and off-road bikers terrorising residents.

Dozens of complaints have been made in recent weeks after ‘ridiculously loud’ bikes were heard ‘whizzing around the area’ late at night.

PCSO Julie Rosthorn said police force policy prevents them chasing the motorists and has urged residents to help them with their enquiries.

Speaking at a recent Oswaldtwistle Area Forum meeting, she said: “We have had a lot of problems with off-road bikes. They were up and down until 11 and 12 at night on streets and pavements and they didn’t care.

“The problem we have with that is we can’t pursue these bikes at it’s force policy so we do rely heavily on the community as well. Part of the problem is people perceive they are going faster than they are because of the noise.

“They can remove the silencer and it makes them sound ridiculously loud.

“We do get complaints about them not wearing helmets but there isn’t a legal requirement. It’s ridiculous because if they come off then there’s not much protection. bike seized.”

PCSO Rosthorn, who started covering the Oswaldtwistle area in May, said two youths have already been identified and dealt with, however there are still other offenders in the area that need identifying.

She said: “There were two lads on a moped.

“They were flying around the area, going on pavements and putting pedestrians, cyclists and drivers at risk and going down no entries.

“Somebody did manage to get a picture of those two.

“They had no helmets or anything and didn’t care about their own safety.

“We did identify both the males.

“One has been in already with his parents and been dealt with.”

Coun Peter Britcliffe said the have bikers have been a ‘tremendous nuisance’.