Bikers V Police over stinger ‘use’

A video has emerged of angry bikers confronting police officers of Kent constabulary over what is claimed to be a ‘stinger system’ being set-up to catch motorcyclists.

The accuracy of the one-minuteand-22-second video, filmed in July, can’t be verified but Kent Police has said that the device – a roving platform of upturned metal spikes used to puncture a vehicle’s tyres – was not used on the road and that there was ‘no intention to deploy it’ at the bikers’ event.

In the video several motorcyclists are clearly agitated the presence of a ‘stinger’ which they claim the police officer was going to use on riders.

While it can’t be determined from the video what the officer in question was planning to do with the device, once the group begin to question him he can be seen packing it up and leaving the scene.

A description posted under the video of what happened on the A20 London Road outside the Oakdene Cafe in Wrotham, Kent, said: “Wednesday at the Oakdene Cafe has, by tradition, been bike night for many years. Sometimes you get the odd ‘herbert’ that likes to have a moment of madness, but generally it’s a good natured event.

“However, the road passing the cafe is a 50mph limit, and this copper decided it would be a good idea to have a stinger ready, to catch any bikers that decided to exceed the legal speed.”

During the altercation, the bikers attending can be heard asking the officer if he intended to use the stinger on motorcycles, before pointing out that if that is the case then such an action could cause a serious accident. One person in the film states that ‘even at 30mph it would mean game over’.

A spokesman from Kent Police said: “At 8.22pm police received reports of dangerous driving on London Road, Wrotham, and officers were on the scene to ensure public safety.

“A stinger device was not deployed or put on the road at any time, and there was no intention to deploy it. This was simply a visual deterrent to prevent any unlawful activity.

“Kent Police will not deploy stingers on vehicles with less than four wheels except in exceptional circumstances, which are based on threat posed to the rider or the general public.”

Response on morebikes.co.uk since the clip was posted has been evenly split between shock the ‘stinger’ was even introduced, and annoyance directed towards the individual bikers who caused the initial disturbance.