A STAPLE Hill man has been banned from riding motorbikes or scooters in a public place for five years as part of a police crackdown on antisocial behaviour.
Harvey Mitchell, aged 20, was given the ban as part of a five-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) relating to a series of offences including taking a motorbike without consent and riding it without insurance.
The prosecution was part of a police operation targeting reported crime and antisocial behaviour relating to motorbikes, mopeds and electric bikes over the summer.
Avon & Somerset police said Mitchell had taken the motorbike without consent in Glencoyne Square, Lockleaze in August.
The incident was one of a rising number of incidents of vehicle thefts, dangerous and anti-social driving, robbery and threatening behaviour reported across South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Bath over the summer.
To tackle the problem police neighbourhood policing teams and road policing officers worked together to identify hotspots and offenders.
A force spokesperson said the operation included use of drones, helicopters, detectives, intelligence gathering and communications to improve police response to incidents.
A total of 28 arrests and voluntary interviews took place, with some involving repeat offenders.
Police say they recovered 27 stolen motorbikes and there was a 35% reduction in reports of antisocial behaviour involving bikes and scooters.
Community protection warnings – sanctions for antisocial behaviour avoiding court proceedings – have been given to 17 people, with one receiving a community protection notice for breaching a warning.
The spokesperson added: “A number of cases remain under investigation or are going through the courts, but many defendants cannot be named for legal reasons due to being aged under 18.
“As well as criminal charges, we’re using antisocial behaviour legislation to impose restrictions on their behaviour, and we’re working with the Youth Justice Service to ensure positive requirements are added to youth rehabilitation orders, when appropriate.”
Mitchell’s CBO bans him from possessing, sitting on, riding or being a pillion passenger of any motorbike, moped, electric bike or electric scooter in a public place, congregating with others in a way that will cause any person to fear for their safety, wearing a balaclava or associating with three other offenders.
Police say breaching the order is a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in jail.
They are urging motorbike owners to improve security for their bikes, including using disc locks, ideally with alarms, trackers, recording the vehicle identification number and securely chaining bikes to an immovable object.
Officers are also urging people to report any suspicious or anti-social behaviour involving motorbikes, calling 999 if a crime is happening or someone is at risk, or 101 otherwise.