Margate 14-year-old has bike seized and is arrested over assault and traffic offences

The seized bike

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in Garlinge on suspicion of assault and traffic offences and had his bike seized.

In response to reports of anti-social riding of motorbikes and scooters seen in Garlinge and Margate, officers from Thanet Community Policing Team and local PCSOs carried out patrols to track down the culprits.

Officers stopped a bike rider in Westfield Road in Garlinge yesterday (October 4) after being spotted by officers  travelling dangerously over both the road and pavement.

The custom-built bike, which is believed to be half a mini-moto, combined with the handle bars and front tyre of a BMX bicycle, was seized and due to it bring ridden on a road when it was not road-legal, will not be returned.

The boy from Margate was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving without a licence and without insurance. He was also arrested on suspicion of assault on a PCSO.

He has been released pending further enquiries.

Inspector Rhiannan Pepper, of Thanet Community Safety Unit said: “When residents report concerns about bikes being ridden anti-socially in the area, it is a serious matter as it is not just about the noise it creates, but  potentially causes a hazard to other road users and pedestrians as well.

“This is not acceptable and officers have been proactively targeting those who are thought to be responsible.

“We encourage anyone who witnesses nuisance riding to report it to Kent Police as your information helps us take action against those responsible.”

4 Comments

  1. There was two-up without crash helmets, just hoodies riding an orange motorbike up and down Northdown Road, Cliftonville weaving in and out of the traffic dangerously on Tuesday afternoon. No registration plate on the bike and of course the obligatory noisy exhaust. It is a regular pastime here but no police to catch them.

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