Police target illegal use of motorbikes

POLICE cracking down on anti-social and illegal motorbike use in Dundee have reported more than 60 offences to prosecutors in recent weeks.

Extra cameras have been brought into areas including Kirkton as officers target those illegally riding vehicles on streets, pavements and in public spaces.

A Police Scotland 4x4 vehicle has also been deployed in the area to help uplift bikes that are seized during Operation Challenge.

We have learned that 15 bikes and scooters have been taken off the streets in the last few weeks.

It comes after concerns from people living in Kirkton that illegal bikers were going to end up killing someone.

Chief Inspector Ross Fitzgerald, area commander for the Dundee local policing area, said: “The Operation Challenge Team remain determined to impact upon the anti-social use of scrambler bikes in Dundee.

“In recent weeks, 15 scrambler bikes and electric scooters have been seized under criminal and anti-social behaviour legislation with over 60 offences reported to the procurator fiscal.

“We have invested in additional dashcams for local police vehicles, increasing the availability of CCTV footage to support our investigations and enhance our ability to identify and prosecute offenders.

“In conjunction with local partners, we continue to seek innovative ways to detect offences and educate those offenders on the inherent dangers it poses to themselves, their friends and their own wider communities.

“We remain grateful to those who support our efforts to tackle this antisocial, irresponsible and illegal activity and would encourage anyone who has information regarding the anti-social use of scrambler bikes to contact police via 101.”

Operation Challenge has been running in Dundee for several years. But this year alone there have been numerous incidents involving off-road motorbikes in and around Dundee.

In the summer, golfers at Caird Park complained that bikers were causing damage to the course nearly every week.

It led to staff at the course wearing body cameras, while police patrols were stepped up in the area.

In July a man was nearly hit as he walked on Harestane Road as a motorcyclist drove over an area of pavement before speeding off. And just last week visitors to Birkhill Cemetery were left distressed after youths on bikes and in cars damaged grassy areas around the graves of their loved ones.