Tormented By Bikers

Police and council chiefs are prepared to bid for anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) to control a small group of troublemakers causing major problems in the Wick area.

Residents have told the Gazette the youths are making their lives a misery, riding noisy motorcycles all hours of the day and night, churning up playing fields and shouting abuse if anyone dares to challenge them.

On Wednesday night last week, the illegal bikers were tearing round their makeshift track off Eldon Way from 7pm to 5am on Thursday, one resident claimed.

Sgt Mick Potter said police would be consulting with Arun District Council and other agencies on the possibility of applying to magistrates for ASBOs in a bid to control the teenagers' behaviour.

"This is completely unacceptable behaviour and we will take action with our partners, particularly the local authority, against anyone committing offences of this kind."

ASBO orders can be imposed on anyone aged 10 and over whose "persistent and serious" anti-social behaviour mars the life of a community or an individual.

Troublemakers can be made subject to a curfew, barred from certain streets or areas and given other strict curbs on their behaviour.

Home Office guidelines set out seven circumstances in which orders can be applied for.

These include: "Where there is persistent, unruly behaviour by a small group of individuals on a housing estate or other local area, who may dominate others and use minor damage to a property and fear of retaliation, possibly at unsociable hours, as a means of intimidating other people."

The daughter of one elderly Wick woman said: "They are distressing residents, some who have lived in their homes for over 40 years.

"For God's sake, these senior citizens have paid their taxes and for what? They are constantly being threatened, humiliated and intimidated. Someone has got to do something."

Sgt Potter said police had responded on each occasion that complaints had been received and, when possible, positive action had been taken. But he encouraged residents to keep reporting incidents as and when they happened and officers would respond.

Bill Minton, Arun's head of external liaison, said ASBO orders were intended for this kind of trouble, but the lengthy processes involved in applying to a court could delay their effectiveness.

As an alternative, the council was now working with police in another part of Arun on an "acceptable behaviour contract", which committed problem families who signed the contract to improve their behaviour or, in the case of council tenants, risk losing their home.

If successful, the measure could be extended across Arun, but where necessary, the council would not hesitate to apply for ASBO orders in appropriate cases.