Pregnant woman hit as nuisance bikers 'cause mayhem' in north Hull

NUISANCE bikers who are causing mayhem are being targeted by police.

Officers are holding a series of operations to crackdown on young people tearing along the pathways of north Hull.

In one case, a pregnant woman was knocked to the floor after being hit by a motorbike, which sped round a corner in Caldane, Orchard Park.

She suffered a swollen ankle and cuts and bruises. The rider left the scene and has not been caught.

Sergeant Rich West, from the Northern neighbourhood policing team, said: "That was the most extreme case but they are creating a danger to pedestrians and themselves, as they are often riding without a helmet.

"It is affecting people's quality of life because they are flying up and down the streets on the paths. In some areas, people are scared to go out.

"They are causing mayhem."

Sgt West said the riders are using mini motorbikes, pit bikes, quad bikes or full-size bikes.

The problem is particularly prevalent in Orchard Park, especially around the former Sir Henry Cooper School site, and on the King George playing fields in Cottingham Road.

Riders are often not wearing helmets or protective clothing and can be riding without a licence or insurance.

Sgt West said: "We are expecting the problem to increase with the kids breaking up from school this week, especially if the nicer weather continues.

"People will then be worried about letting their kids play out in the street because these bikes pose a danger.

"They are also just causing general antisocial behaviour. They are noisy and because they are going round and round that can have a real impact on people.

"The main concern, though, is that the people riding these bikes are a danger to themselves and to others.

"They often think they are the best riders in the world and are invincible but because they have no licence, they haven't been trained on what to do if they do lose control."

• Map: Crime in North Carr and Northern police area, May-July

Police have been holding day-long operations with officers from the council's antisocial behaviour team to try to catch the bikers.

Safety rules mean officers in cars are banned from chasing bikes – leaving them to rely on intelligence from the public about who is riding them.

The Humberside Police helicopter, Oscar 99, is also being used to track offenders.

Sgt West said: "A lot of the time, our hands our tied. If we can't chase them, we can't catch them.

"We are asking people to ring in and tell us who is doing this or where they see the bikes going. If we get a call, we will go out but often they just shoot off and we can't follow them.

"We will continue to patrol the areas where this is happening, but we also rely on the intelligence we get from the public."

If riders are found to have no insurance or a licence, their bikes can be seized.

Police can also seize vehicles if they cause "harassment, alarm or distress" on more than one occasion. Riders who are not wearing helmets can be fined.

Sgt West said he would like to see an area for young people in the to ride bikes safely.

"There are places in the city, but they are quite far away from here," he said.

"This area is crying out for a motorcycle project. When you ask the kids, they say they want somewhere to ride their bikes.

"If we had somewhere like that, we would be able to educate them."

Anyone with information about the bikes should call Humberside Police on 101.