Police crack down on mini problem (From Gazette Series)

Police crack down on mini problem

POLICE are cracking down on anti-social use of miniature motor vehicles thanks to new legislation.

At the Police Community Consultative meeting held in Berkeley last week, residents were told local police were now making use of a previously unused piece of law to help combat a craze in mini motos.

Mini motos are small motorcycles intended to be ridden off-road. But children and teenagers in Berkeley, Sharpness and Dursley are making a nuisance of themselves by riding them on public highways and in residential areas.

Insp Paul Donovan, the Neighbourhood Inspector for Dursley, said: "This problem is everywhere. We have been getting complaints about a gang in Dursley. We think it has been worse recently because of the school holidays."

The new legislation comes is contained in the Police Reform Act 2002, section 59. If an individual is caught using any motor vehicle in an anti-social manner or is driving without due care and attention officers can now pass the person's details on to the traffic department.

Insp Donovan said: "The traffic department will then visit the owner of the vehicle involved and give them a warning. If that individual is caught again behaving in an anti-social manner with any other vehicle within 12 months of the original warning we have the powers to seize the vehicle."

Police say, so far, two warnings have been served on two offenders for driving small motor vehicles in an anti-social way in the Dursley area.