Mini-motorbike menance

Buchan Road Mini Moto
Originally uploaded by Fiona Colley.

This little tyke was haring up and down Buchan Road today, sometimes on the pavement.

Mini-motorbikes are becoming a big issue in Nunhead. They are very popular with teenage boys (and sometime even younger kids) and are available for as little as £150. This rider was more safety conscious than most - he was wearing a helmet.

They make a terrible racket and are often driven dangerously on pavements, footpaths or parks. It drives people mad when they are trying to have a quiet night in and one of these keeps buzzing past. There have also been a number of accidents where the rider and pedestrians have been hurt due to the dangerous driving.

It is actually illegal for them to be ridden anywhere except private property with the permission of the landowner, but it's very difficult for the police to catch them as they can easily speed away.

However, the new Safer Neighbourhood Police teams seem to be having some success. These are teams of six police officers who walk the beat of a small neighbourhood. They really get to know the area and community well, which means they can police it proactively rather than just respond to 999 calls.

The team in Surrey Docks has been going for a couple of years and has managed to confiscate quite a number. The only way to catch the riders is for the police to be on the spot and to already know where the kids live. Hopefully the new Nunhead Safer Neighbourhood Team which has just started will be able to replicate this success. I called the team to let them know about this rider and will be emailing them my picture.