Police have planned a major blitz against illegal motorbike riders using public land in the City of Casey. Picture: Damien K.By Callan Date
CASEY’S top cop has vowed to crack down on illegal motorbike riders following widespread outcry from residents across the municipality.
Designated off-road police patrols will target rider hotspots and a special operation will be re-launched over the next two months to combat the dangerous and annoying motorbike activities.
The move follows a front page article in last week’s News which detailed the public nuisance which is being created by the motorbike hoons.
The story created a huge response with more than 15 letters, along with numerous phone calls, from readers who were fed up with riders using public land near residential areas to ride their motorbikes.
Two letters were also received in support of the riders – with calls for Casey Council to do more to establish a motor sport facility where locals could ride legally.
Casey Acting Police Inspector Bruce Kitchen urged residents who came across illegal riders to call the Casey hoon hotline.
“We need intelligence about who these people are, who are riding illegally and where they live,” Act Insp Kitchen said.
“People need to ring the hotline and report the time, date and where the riding is taking place. But more importantly we need to know who (they are) and where they live.”
Insp Kitchen also said parents had a responsibility in making sure their children were not breaking the law when riding.
“Parents have to be held accountable too,” he said.
Many News readers said the noise created by the motorbikes was bordering on unbearable.
Cranbourne resident Debbie Rees said she had contacted police, along with Casey councillors, several times but nothing had been done.
“My next door neighbours ended up selling their house and moving to Langwarrin where it is more peaceful,” Ms Rees said.
“I have really had enough of nobody willing to help us at all and I am seriously considering selling up as well.”
Endeavour Hills local Jason Kwan said he had raised the issue with Casey Council, but never got a reply.
“The noise that these bikes make is bad enough and there are sometimes people riding around at night, up to 11pm on some weeknights,” he said.
Civic leaders recently voted to investigate establishing a regional motor sport facility in the area.
Narre Warren resident Rhonda Richardson said more needed to be done to cater for motor sport enthusiasts.
“If there was somewhere that these people could ride their bikes locally, they wouldn’t feel the need to ride on our streets,” she said.
“It’s easy for people to get on their high horse and say that people shouldn’t be riding on their streets, instead of complaining, why don’t we look properly at the issue and find a way to fix the problem in a pro-active way,” Ms Richardson said.
To report any illegal motorbike activity call the Casey hoon hotline on 1800 184 666.
