The ongoing scourge of dangerous motorcyclists riding illegally in Houghton Regis, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard was raised in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon.
Speaking afterwards, South West Bedfordshire MP, Andrew Selous said,
“We have already had one death and one very serious injury and I fear that we will have more. Residents are really fed up and are worried for their own safety whether it is elderly people who are concerned they will not be able to get out of the way or parents scared that their children will be crashed into. People have been unable to sit out in the gardens because of the constant noise and I have witnessed this illegal behaviour in broad daylight twice last week. We need a daily response from the police that is robust and determined. We cannot allow our roads in public spaces to be taken over by this lawless behaviour.”
The exchange in Parliament yesterday afternoon, what is as follows
8. What recent guidance she has issued to the police on apprehending illegal motorcyclists.
The Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire
The illegal use of motorcycles can cause distress and be dangerous to the public. The police have all the powers they need to police that, and such use of motorcycles is illegal. The College of Policing’s authorised professional practice provides advice to the operationally independent chief constables, whom I urge to use their powers to the full.
Dangerous motorcyclists are out of control in my area. We have had one death and one life-threatening injury. We now have six year olds riding pillion on motorbikes, and people doing wheelies down roads, pavements and amenity areas, with not a helmet in sight. My police tell me that they need urgent guidance on safeguarding officers who try to apprehend them, and an urgent review of section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2022 on the requirement that officers be present in uniform at the time of offending. Would the Minister get on to those specific issues, please?
I would be happy to look into those specific issues. The police have powers to pursue, even where the motorcycle rider is not wearing a helmet. We had similar issues with mopeds in London four or five years ago. For a time, the police did not pursue them, and moped crime shot through the roof. They now pursue them, and it has gone back down. I urge Bedfordshire police to use those powers, but I will certainly look into the questions that my hon. Friend has raised.