Bike nuisance has to be stamped out

GENUINE concerns have been raised by several residents about motor bike/quad bike disorder across parts of Kenton and the wider west end of our city.

Youths riding noisy nonlicensed bikes on pavements and on open green space like Kenton Dene without helmets is anti-social behaviour. It needs to be stamped out.

Despite cuts to the Northumbria Police budget, the police locally have responded positively by creating a specialist team to tackle crime and disorder linked to motorcyclists. To date this has proved productive with arrests being made and dispersal notices issued.

Fake number plates, motor bikes and other items have been confiscated by officers. In some cases quad bikes have been destroyed.

The police have stressed the need for residents to continue

to report any information or complaints to them regarding this problem. Your Kenton readers will be pleased to know that information already gathered has enabled the police to catch offenders and bring them before the magistrate’s courts.

Although police action is key, Kenton Ward, with our colleagues in Blakelaw, are funding out-reach work on Kenton Dene, Montagu and nearby Cowgate to divert young people from anti-social behaviour.

Kenton councillors remain committed to being tough on low level crime and its causes. COUN ANYA DURRANT, Coun Stephen Lambert and Coun Ged Bell, Kenton Ward, Newcastle City Council