“Would you prefer the kids playing on their bikes in traffic?” Backlash as police accuse young cyclists of damaging castle gardens by building bike ramp and abusing officers

Police in Antrim have urged local parents to be “aware of what your children are up to”, after officers confronted a number of abusive “male youths on bicycles wearing dark clothing”, who they claim have caused damage to the town’s castle gardens by digging their own DIY bike ramp.

However, the police’s statement has been roundly criticised by locals, who pointed out that the gardens used to be home to makeshift BMX tracks and that the youngster’s actions were indicative of the need for safe cycling facilities in the Northern Irish town.

In a post shared on Facebook on Thursday night, the PSNI’s Antrim and Newtownabbey branch said that Antrim Neighbourhood Police had responded to reports of anti-social behaviour and damage being caused within the grounds of the town’s Castle Gardens, a 400-year-old garden and popular tourist attraction owned by the local council.

Posting photos of a small dirt ramp and wheel tracks, the police claimed the damage was caused “by a number of male youths on bicycles wearing dark clothing”.

“On arrival of police, the youths gave abuse and foul language to the officers and refused to engage,” the statement read.

“A lot of time and money is spent on maintaining the Gardens, as well as being used to host events throughout the year for everyone to enjoy. Parents, are you aware what your children are up to? Do you know they are causing damage using spades and being abusive to police?

“Also, one youth left the area so quickly he left an item of clothing behind, this has been taken back to Antrim Neighbourhood Office, please let us know if you wish to retrieve it.”

The police’s statement has been greeted with widespread criticism from cyclists and other locals on Facebook, who while not condoning the abuse aimed at officers, questioned the severity of the damage caused and the police’s priorities.

“Growing up, this was the unofficial BMX track,” Antrim resident Priscilla Wood said. “There’s no place for antisocial behaviour, especially language, and we need to provide safe, fun places for teenagers to ride bikes and be outside.

“The castle grounds belong to the people of Antrim, and if we don’t want damage and repeated investment in the same thing, maybe we should consider how we allocate resources to provide for teenagers, our future rate-paying residents and voters!”

Ashley Donaldson added: “I don’t agree with the cheek of them but even though we love coming up to Antrim Castle Grounds I can see why they are using those hills to ride their bikes.

“I’m sure the kids of Antrim could do with somewhere set up with some jumps and a route around it to take their bikes too.”

> “They’re saying bikes and kids aren’t welcome”: Conservationists slammed for “vindictive” destruction of children’s bike track – but councillor says work will stop speeding cyclists and “undo harm” in wood

One of those criticising the police’s response was former Irish cyclocross champion and An Post Chain Reaction pro David Montgomery, who asked: “Is shaping a bit of soil really causing damage?”

He continued: “I’ve seen worse ‘damage’ left by maintenance. Really don’t see what you’re achieving here, maybe you’d prefer if the kids were playing on the streets and amongst the traffic on their bikes causing havoc rather than safely out of the way.

“Realistically kids need something to do and it could be a lot worse. Pretty social behaviour rather than anti-social, to be honest.”

“Are you lot having a laugh, kids playing on bicycles building a wee jump, this is a joke, right?” asked Andy Phillips, while Declan Murphy wrote: “Here’s an idea, build them a pump and jump track.”

> “God forbid children get outside and have fun”: Police slammed for taping off grass ‘ramp’ used by young cyclists, amid concerns over anti-social behaviour, damage, and near misses with drivers

And Donny McKendry said: “If it’s the same group of wee lads I saw on Monday evening, they were a decent group. Was actually great to see young ones outside on bikes, rather than being on an Xbox. I’m sure if you asked any adult in Antrim, they used to ride a bike at the jumps in the Castle Grounds before it was turned into a fairy garden. Any wonder you get abuse!”

The issue of children building their own DIY mountain bike and BMX courses – and police and local authorities attempting to stop them – has become an increasingly common one in recent years.

In March, Twyford Parish Council in Berkshire was told to give young cyclists a “place to ride” after a social media post accusing a group of children of causing “criminal damage” by building a DIY bike ramp in a park provoked another furious online backlash among locals.

“We are aware that some youngsters have been creating their own BMX ramp at King George V Recreation Ground,” the council said in its statement, which called on the children to remove the ramp and fix the ‘damage’ to the field.

“Unfortunately, this is classed as criminal damage and has been reported to the Anti-Social Behaviour Team and the police,” the local authority continued.

“If your young people have borrowed a spade from home or are currently out on their bikes, please ask them to reinstate the field as soon as possible.

“Perhaps they’d like to engage with the Council over their wishes for a BMX track? We appreciate your support in helping us look after our shared community spaces.”

However, the council’s statement was widely criticised on the social media platform, attracting over 800 comments, with locals pointing out that the lack of adequate cycling facilities in the village – and engagement from the council on that matter – meant that the children were forced to take matters into their own hands.

Last June, a group of conservation volunteers in Sheffield were accused of leaving a wooded area “in a mess” after a popular children’s mountain bike trail was dug up and destroyed in what locals described as a “malicious and vindictive” act targeting young cyclists.

However, a local councillor who took part in the “unsanctioned” track’s destruction insisted that the work was necessary to repair the damage allegedly caused by the trail, while arguing that it will “remove the danger speeding cyclists pose to other woods users”.

The previous month, we reported that police in Shropshire were criticised by local cyclists for taping off a grass area in the grounds of a village hall, which has reportedly been used by schoolchildren on mountain bikes as a ramp, sparking concerns about potential collisions with passing motorists.

And in July 2024, a group of young cyclists in Lancashire were also criticised by conservationists for allegedly causing “serious” damage to a nature reserve by digging up parts of the earth to create mountain bike jumps.

According to the Wildlife Trust, a section of wildflower meadow at Cross Hill Quarry, a former quarry site and green space located just outside Clitheroe, was dug up to create a number of small jumps, an act the Trust claimed was “unlawful”.

That criticism came around the same time children in South Wales were threatened by residents and stopped from entering a woodland which they had cleared of litter to use as a cycle track, which the local housing association claimed was anti-social behaviour that was causing “severe damage” to the area.

Throughout June, the group of local kids, all around primary school age, spent their weekends clearing rubbish from Garw Wood, which runs between houses in Croesyceiliog, a suburb of Cwmbran, to create a makeshift bike park.

However, at the end of the month, the Bron Afon community housing association fenced off the entrances to the ancient woodland, a decision it claimed was due to “anti-social behaviour in the area which has caused damage” – but which local parents have claimed was due to pressure from residents who had threatened and swore at the children.