Police officers and council wardens have visited the homes and schools of teenage cyclists accused of riding their bikes in a “mob-like” manner in Middlesbrough. But while such groups may attract alarmist headlines in the press, often it keeps them away from being involved in crime.
The operation followed what Mayor of Middlesbrough Andy Preston described as “intimidating” behaviour by a group of young bike riders in the north-east England town.
Last month, CCTV pictures were issued showing a group of riders at the corner of Grange Road and Linthorpe Road, reports Teesside Live.
In a statement, the mayor revealed that some of the youths identified had received visits from police and council street wardens at their homes or schools.
He said: “When gangs of bike-riding youths swarmed Middlesbrough town centre mob-handed, blocking roads and intimidating shoppers, I vowed the council and police would take action – and we have.
“The perpetrators from across Teesside were identified from CCTV footage – and we’ve made five visits to secondary schools to confirm the identity of the youths.
“We’ve visited 25 homes – with 18 youths issued with warnings and seven made to sign ‘acceptable behaviour contracts’, which if broken will result in more serious consequences.”
At the time, police put a dispersal order in force, permitting officers to move the youths on.
Preston added: “The majority of parents were supportive of our actions – but follow-up calls to homes and schools will be made.
“Intimidating shoppers for entertainment is completely unacceptable behaviour and we’ve had very strong public backing on this.
“I’m determined to make our town centre a safe, welcoming place for shoppers, residents and visitors alike.”
While groups of youths taking to their bikes and riding through town and city centres pulling wheelies and suchlike may alarm some people and generate negative headlines in the local press, there is often an important social message behind it.
The BikeStormz movement, centred on London, promotes a Bikes Up, Knives Down message and, as we’ve covered here previously on road.cc, offers marginalised young people a different path to engaging in gang culture and crime.
> Thousands of youngsters expected for June’s BikeStormz 8 in London (+ video)
18 thoughts on ““Mob-like” teen cyclists get visit from police and council officers”
That’s two articles on road
That’s two articles on road.cc today that young people have been referred to as “youths”. Please don’t do this, by doing so you’re in the company of reactionary tabloid rags that rarely paint young people in a positive light. My sister’s a youth worker has a degree on the topic and agrees. Young people works much better! Thanks.
Your sister is a “youth
Your sister is a “youth worker”, says we mustn’t call them “youths”? Couldn’t make it up.
That did occur to me as I
That did occur to me as I wrote it! I think it’s more the point that whenever mainstream media thinks a teenager did something bad, they’re suddenly “youths”. It’s an easy way to “other” them as a group.
Besides, the media started using the word in such a negative way after things like youth clubs and youth degrees became a thing.
I think in the photo above
I think in the photo above they are defining themselves to be “other”, and I think they’d be disappointed if that was not the perception. Of course, t’was ever thus. I’m sure that in their turn they will question the antics of the following generation. Doesn’t mean that the behaviour should not be recognised for what it is, anti-social.
“Intimidating shoppers”
“Intimidating shoppers” certainly is anti-social, but it’s better than forming gangs and threatening to stab eachother. Perhaps the question should be what drove them to such behaviour rather than simply castigating them. I bet fifteen years ago or so there would have been more local organised activities for them to do. Less stick more carrot.
But the council and police
But the council and police ignore the thousands of motorists who intimidate pedestrians and cyclists every day and are far more dangerous?
Yes, wait until the police
Yes, wait until the police discover the intimidating and illegal driving going on in Teesside! Oh wait.
Bit of a storm in a teacup,
Bit of a storm in a teacup, from the sounds of it.
Looking at the other story on here, though, I’d be intrigued as to the outcome if they were encouraged to go do their group cycling in Reading.
From the photo it appears
From the photo it appears they are riding down the road wreaking havoc on…. Well, nothing really. Oh hang on:
WON’T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!
What? They are children? No we must re brand them as “youths” which sounds much more ominous!
Quote:
For true Daily Mail effect, you need to use the words yobs/yobbos, louts, thugs and hooligans. Delinquents is also acceptable but you have to remember that not many Daily Mail readers can spell it or pronounce it correctly.
Also I’m sure that many are balaclava-clad (kind of like lycra-clad but for yobbos).
Andy Preston should remember
Andy Preston should remember his days on BMX beat and let them enjoy their bikes. He used to jump over cars FFS.
See Andy Preston, just amazing (can’t paste the link).
The youngster just need a
The youngster just need a little education, they can be just as angst and antiestablishment, by just riding down the road solo or in groups in a perfectly lawful manner with or without wheelies. Add in some ninja filtering for good measure and we have a perfect recipe.
Any reason why the police don
Any reason why the police don’t deal with the mobs of speeding drivers on public roads? I regularly see motorists breaking the speed limit and showing mob-like behaviour on our roads and yet why don’t the police go and visit their homes and have a word?
“But while such groups may
“But while such groups may attract alarmist headlines in the press, often it keeps them away from being involved in crime”
Can’t help but feel this would be the defence of a wife-beater ‘at least I’m not a murderer…’
alansmurphy wrote:
But someone who has beaten their wife has actually comitted a crime, so the analogy is at best, non-existent.
In a few years they will have
In a few years they will have mopeds and the real fun will begin.
Rick_Rude wrote:
FTFY.
Bloody Kids, always on thier
Bloody Kids, always on thier phones and ipads….., oh wait!