Cycling UK Forum

As I'm often commenting on the decline in traffic policing, I thought it was right to mention a local investigation which has been pursued with a number of arrests. Motorcyclists are reported to have caused disruption in Leeds on Hallowe'en and there has been a follow-up

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-38265725

The same has happened in Brum and about time.

While I don't condone the anti social behaviour, it looks to me like the police went after easy targets, those nasty yoof. It'll be a popular action among many. Some of those applauding it will be drivers putting lives at risk every day, who if caught (Fat chance) will be moaning that the police should be out catching real criminals (not them)

Some of us live in areas blighted by these people on motorbikes and have done our fair share of trying to get something done.

PH wrote:... it looks to me like the police went after easy targets, ...

That's a tactic I was taught early on (If you are on a pub raid, pick the one who's too greedy to stop drinking; if you disturb a group of burglars, chase the one with a limp; etc.) and it can be effective, but I'd be interested to know why you think it's happening here.

I'd reiterate for the umpteenth time that prevention is better than detection and road traffic offences are arguably more amenable to visible patrolling than most others. Having said that, and in spite of the fact that many motorcyclists feel they have experienced more than their fair share of police attention, it's very difficult to deal with an event like this. The overall reduction in specialist traffic officers means there are fewer to summon up from across a force area and police motorcyclists are even less likely to be available in strength, especially at short notice. Coupled with that, any sort of chasing motorcyclists about at speed - and this was after dark - is bordering on verboten. With riders' faces hidden with scarves, visors etc, and sometimes reg plates obscured, follow-up enquiries are not necessarily easy. I fancy the people involved in this type of thing know all this.

By chance, this coincided with the announcement that the officer who had been Temporary Chief Constable had been given a permanent appointment. She was interviewed on the local news about her appointment and when a question about this was slipped in she appeared to sidestep it. I really thought we would hear nothing more.

My own feeling is that the initial incident - or rather series of related incidents - was not trivial and I'm reassured that a proper investigation followed. Incidentally, local reports suggest that a similar event planned soon afterwards in Bradford was prevented based on intelligence gathered after this one. It's also reported that Leeds City Council has obtained an injunction, with a power of arrest, aimed at nipping in the bud anything similar, before any dangerous riding begins.

PH wrote:While I don't condone the anti social behaviour, it looks to me like the police went after easy targets, those nasty yoof.

Sorry, have to disagree. Anyone older than 22 is old enough to vote, get married, and know better.

Six men, aged between 22 and 26, and a 29-year-old woman were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance after early-morning raids across Leeds.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-38265725

irc wrote:Sorry, have to disagree. Anyone older than 22 is old enough to vote, get married, and know better.

Older than 18 .... actually, ... but totally agree ... 22 is the new 16 with youth today .......

... any sort of chasing motorcyclists about at speed ... is bordering on verboten. ...

This link touches on what I was getting at. It's about crime rather than antisocial behaviour, and mopeds rather than motorbikes, but it's basically the same issue:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-38294358

The Leeds case is still grinding through the court system:

Leeds Halloween bikers chaos: Twelve plead guilty

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-40119846

Majority of defendants sentenced today. Interesting that they are locals; I thought that this type of thing was the same people going round the country.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-40570702

thirdcrank wrote:Majority of defendants sentenced today. Interesting that they are locals; I thought that this type of thing was the same people going round the country.

Perhaps you were right, and the people going round the country are all from Leeds?

I hadn't thought of that.

So, basically, they rode motorcycles through pedestrian areas and got longer jail sentences than many people who kill cyclists? That's mad.

I can see the point of the madness, you stamp out the danger before somebody is killed.
What is annoying is that any suited guy can drive his Audi assertively through pedestrianised areas* with impunity.

*In my town at least, well if he can get through all the cars parked on it.