Illegal offroaders strike on Chalkstone estate
Monday, 24th June 2013.
Offroading motor-cyclists are plaguing the Chalkstone estate this year, and police are asking the public to help stop them.
For the last few years the seasonal problem, associated with the summer months, has hit the Clements estate and the fields towards Ladygate Woods, where one youngster, Andrew Armstrong was killed in an accident with a telegraph pole.
This year the problem has migrated to the other side of the town and is affecting tracks off Chalkstone Way, particularly behind Green Road.
PC Will Wright of Haverhill Safer neighbourhood Team said they were keen to halt the dangerous activity before there was another tragedy, but the motorbikes were too fast for patrolling police to stop and identify the culprits.
Riders were wearing helmets so identification was doubly difficult, he said.
Riding motorbikes on these offroad tracks is illegal and PC Will Wright said offenders should be in no doubt that penalties would be imposed.
Also residents were concerned because riders accessed the area by riding through the pedestrian walkways on the estate, which was dangerous and frightening for anyone out walking.
"We would urge members of the public with any information to pass it on to us to help stop this," he said.
PC Wright can be contacted at Haverhill police on 101, or information can be given via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
One element is not as bad this year as in the past in that the riders seemed to own the bikes rather than having stolen them locally as has often been the case.
PC Wright said they had not had any reports of thefts of bikes on the estate.
For the last few years the seasonal problem, associated with the summer months, has hit the Clements estate and the fields towards Ladygate Woods, where one youngster, Andrew Armstrong was killed in an accident with a telegraph pole.
This year the problem has migrated to the other side of the town and is affecting tracks off Chalkstone Way, particularly behind Green Road.
PC Will Wright of Haverhill Safer neighbourhood Team said they were keen to halt the dangerous activity before there was another tragedy, but the motorbikes were too fast for patrolling police to stop and identify the culprits.
Riders were wearing helmets so identification was doubly difficult, he said.
Riding motorbikes on these offroad tracks is illegal and PC Will Wright said offenders should be in no doubt that penalties would be imposed.
Also residents were concerned because riders accessed the area by riding through the pedestrian walkways on the estate, which was dangerous and frightening for anyone out walking.
"We would urge members of the public with any information to pass it on to us to help stop this," he said.
PC Wright can be contacted at Haverhill police on 101, or information can be given via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
One element is not as bad this year as in the past in that the riders seemed to own the bikes rather than having stolen them locally as has often been the case.
PC Wright said they had not had any reports of thefts of bikes on the estate.
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