Concern over off-road bikes
A‘wall of silence’is protecting bikers tearing up public footpaths and causing danger on housing estates.
In West Lothian, and across much of central Scotland, police have been struggling to control the illegal use of off-road bikes being used dangerously both in rural and urban spaces.
Across the county this month police have been appealing for witnesses to come forward, warning that a lack of information from the public is protecting bikers who could go on to injure themselves or pedestrians.
At a recent meeting of Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley local area committee, Councillor Pauline Clark asked Sergeant Iain Wells why the public often don’t report the bikers.
She said: “Are people reluctant to call the police because they know the bikers and don’t want them to get into trouble?
“I wondered if it’s because the bikers are known, and they’re not considered bad guys but people are a wee bit reluctant to report them because they don’t want them to end up with a criminal record?”
Sgt Wells replied: “You’ve probably hit the nail on the head there, councillor.
“You’re right, they will be seen as a nuisance but actually ‘that’s my pal’s wee brother’ or something like that.”
He added: “What we need to remember is that these bikes are extremely dangerous not just to their drivers but to members of the public.”
Sgt Wells reminded the meeting that one of his colleagues had been hit by an off-road biker in Livingston three years ago and had been forced to retire from the force on medical grounds because of his injuries.
The police have met with partners in the Community Safety Partnership to look at ways of tackling the problem.
He said: “Quite often we put out requests on the media in relation to drugs or other incidents, and we get a response.
“With this we are met with a wall of silence and it’s really disappointing because we rely on that community intelligence to assess the situation and then to make the relevant intervention.”
Sgt Wells stressed that calls can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers.
And he said that community intelligence was the only way police would be able to deal with the problems.
Council staff have also been involved in discussions on tackling the bikers.
Housing staff are aware of the nuisance and danger of the anti-social behaviour element of the bikes being ridden on public footpaths in housing schemes.
Countryside manager Andy Johnston also pointed out that the council is landed with extra maintenance costs from damage done to play areas and football pitches which are also frequently used by bikers. He told the meeting it can often be costly to do repairs.
“It’s not just that the bikes tear up the grass, but on football pitches they can also damage the drainage, and that’s something we have to repair,” he told the meeting.
What we need to remember is that these bikes are dangerous