Tackling Mini Moto Misuse

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• Tackling Mini Moto Misuse

Russ Aziz, Assistant Deputy Director, Respect
Task Force Sam McConnell, ASB Co-ordinator,
Oldham MBC Chief Inspector Mark Harrison, Kent
Police
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The Problem

• Hundreds of calls are being put into police and
  anti social behaviour reporting lines across the
  country

• During the mini moto summer enforcement campaign
  20 areas recorded over 3,000 calls

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The Problem

• 1. The community unable to use Public Spaces -
  parks, estates, roads
• 2. Quality of life dramatically effected by noise
  nuisance
• 3. Mini moto misuse can be very intimidating

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Mini motos and the law

• Illegal to ride a mini moto anywhere on public
  space
• Parks
• Housing Estates
• Roads

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Action Police Powers

• Uniformed Police have powers to seize bikes
• s.165a Road Traffic Act enables seizure of bikes
  where rider does not have insurance/licence on
  public land
• s.59 Police Reform Act enables seizure of mini
  moto after a warning
• ASBOs
• ABCs
• PCSOs/Wardens eyes

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Action Environmental Health Powers

• s.79 Environmental Protection Act (EPA) enables a
  statutory nuisance to be served for excessive
  noise
• s.80 EPA enables an officer to serve a Noise
  Abatement Notice
• Introducing gates in parks to prevent riders
  passing through at high speeds

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Action Trading Standards Powers

• Local Authority Co-ordination on Regulatory
  Services (LACORS) petroleum licence s2.9 states
  petrol should not be sold to anyone under 16
• Consumer Protection Act 1987 can be used to
  seize mini motos from retailers not adhering to
  safety guidelines

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Action - Courts

• Conviction of an offence related to the misuse of
  a mini moto can mean points being put on a
  future licence
• This is a strong deterrent for teenagers

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Communications

• Many parents, riders and agencies still not clear
  about the law regarding their use
• Publicity needs to make this unambiguous

• Undertake a leaflet/ poster campaign
• Radio adverts
• Get teachers on board
• Raise awareness with parents

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Public crushing
Home Secretary, John Reid Manchester July 2006
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Communication

• Listen to reports of mini moto misuse
• Take action
• Tell public what youve done!
• Reassures the community that action is being
  taken
• Restores faith in local services

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Legal use of mini motos

• Auto-cycle Union want to talk to local
  authorities about setting up legal sites
• Diversionary activities
• Message is clear - lack of a site does not mean
  the law should be broken.

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Taking action

• National campaign to raise awareness of law
• Produced a guide to tackling mini moto misuse
• Produced a leaflet
• Encouraged local campaigns

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www.respect.gov.uk