Today (20.2.2024) Peter Gibson MP called for the Government to do more to stop dangerous off-road vehicles terrorising Darlington.
Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate called by Peter, he stated “One such threat to people’s feeling of safety and security is anti-social behaviour, and in particular the use of illegal off-road vehicles.
“These types of vehicles are great pieces of equipment for going scrambling on, or for getting around rural farmland. However, they were not designed to be used on our streets, by people intent on causing terror and fear. They were not designed to be used by criminals wearing balaclavas or masks to evade police detection.
“They were not designed to create a noise nuisance and safety fear in our community.”
Peter outlined the concerns of hundreds of local people, who have raised the issue and frequently comment and feedback examples of illegal off-road vehicles sailing through red lights, riding on pavements, displaying no lights.
Peter went on to praise the work of Durham Constabulary and the Darlington Borough Council Civic Enforcement Team for their work on Operation Endurance, which sees the team gathering data and monitoring intelligence on these people, so that action can be taken to disrupt them and bring a stop to their offending.
There has a big campaign to encourage residents to report any nuisance bikers who will then face punishment.
Suggesting solutions to the Minister, Peter advocated further provision and funding for police forces and 101 services, the licensing and tracking of vehicles and stopping offenders being able to purchase vehicles again. Peter also suggested that vehicles seized from offenders be destroyed promptly and stricter sentences for offenders be introduced.
In response, the Government’s spokesperson Chris Philp MP thanked Peter for his work on the issue and declared that the Government is committed to deterring this type of antisocial behaviour.
Chris emphasised the expansion of the Criminal Justice Bill which he declared would see greater powers for police to require face coverings not to be used at all in certain areas to prevent illegal off-road bikers hiding their identity.
