Police stand by bike ramp post
POLICE have stood by their treatment of bike ramps in a field as incidents of ‘criminal damage’ after claims they were being ‘heavy handed’.
Officers from the Macclesfield Tytherington team warned the ‘offenders’ that their behaviour had been reported to them and that they were now investigating the incident, in a meadow off Abbey Road.
It is unclear when exactly the ramps were made but ahead of the summer holidays police photographed the damage and shared the results on Facebook.
The post said: “Your local officers have been made aware that youths have been making themselves ‘bike ramps’ on the meadow off Abbey Road.
“Please be aware that this is criminal damage and we are seeking to identify the offenders to prevent further damage.”
But the online warning has prompted a furious backlash with more than 1,000 comments praising the children’s initiative and criticising the police for a so-called heavyhanded approach. Some even called for the matter to be reported to Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
Mark Lake said: “Picking on kids now for having fun. At least they aren’t out mugging/ stabbing/causing nuisance likely to cause distress. They are having fun.”
Steven Warren said: “This is a pathetic waste of police resources. And all these comments should be sent to the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner for him to publicise.”
Sharon Halafu-Booth added: “Meanwhile all the drug deals are business as usual just around the corner, safe in the knowledge that they’re fine so long as they don’t build any bike ramps.”
Samantha Bramwell said: “Is building a tree house or den criminal damage too? What is it that is acceptable for kids to be doing all day?”
Macclesfield Local Policing Unit told the Express they were aware of comments added to a Facebook post in relation to damage caused to a meadow on Abbey Road, Tytherington.
Inspector Catherine Mitchell said: “We have received a number of reports from residents living nearby regarding both the damage to the area and a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour.
“Clearly this is an issue of concern for the local community and as the local policing team we are looking address the issues. We appreciate the comments made on the social media post and we would like to reassure people that we are not trying to stop anyone from having fun.
“However, causing damage and being antisocial is not acceptable, and there is a purposebuilt skate park nearby at West Park that is free for everyone to use.”
‘This is a pathetic waste of police resources’