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Gateshead Council and Northumbria Police use PSPO to stop motorcyclists off-roading on rural bridleway (12 November 2015)

Date: 12/11/2015
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Gateshead Council and Northumbria Police use PSPO to stop motorcyclists off-roading on rural bridleway

Authorities in Gateshead have used a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.

The council says that countryside bridleways and footways at Kibblesworth in Tyne and Wear have been a target for off-road motorcyclists, causing nuisance and a potential danger to other users of the area.

Despite previous efforts to warn bikers to be more considerate, the problem has persisted.

However, a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has given the police and Gateshead Council powers to prosecute and fine anyone in breach of the order. Under the PSPO, anybody caught riding a motorcycle or quad bike on the bridleways and footways in or around the area, as set out in the order, can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £100, or £1,000 upon prosecution.

PSPOs can be enforced by a police officer, police community support officer and council officers.

Before the PSPO, the problem of motorcyclists riding off-road in the area at was raised at community meetings.

A Multi-Agency Tasking Group – comprising officers from Northumbria Police, Gateshead Council and The Gateshead Housing Company – started to investigate the pattern of behaviour in off-road riders.

Historically, the country bridleway was an old railway line that ran behind Ouselaw, near Kibblesworth and led to Birtley. Many of the riders are believed to live locally in Kibblesworth or Birtley – and ride along the railway lines between the two areas.

Police also found that some riders travel out of the area specifically to use the old railway lines for off-road motorcycling.

Police officers from the Gateshead South Neighbourhood Police Team formed Operation Goldwing to try and curb the problem. The police verbally warned 14 riders and issued eight Warning Notices to people caught off-road motorcycling, but the problem continued.

Inspector Mick Robson from Northumbria Police said:

“Since the beginning of the year, we have received 82 reports of motorcycle disorder in the Birtley and Kibblesworth areas – 48 of these have been for the Kibblesworth area.

“Despite our officers warning riders who are caught off-road motorcycling, the problem is still ongoing.

“The PSPO will give the Police Officers and Council Officer the powers to remove people from the area who are in breach of the order – and also fine them.

“We hope the use of the order will significantly disrupt offending riders and give the public and residents of Kibblesworth the protection they deserve from this problem.”

Gateshead Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Volunteering for Gateshead Council, Councillor Linda Green, said:

“We didn’t arrive at the decision to use a PSPO lightly. The anti-social use of motorbikes has been a problem for people in Kibblesworth for many years and is regularly reported to the police and the council.

“These public rights of way are ideal for families, dog walkers, cyclists and horse riders, who have the right to use these pathways for peaceful recreation.

“The behaviour of a small group of motorcyclists is causing disturbance for those living nearby the bridleway and for those trying to use it.”



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