Children as young as 11 are terrorising residents by illegally riding motorcycles through Bradford estates.

And it has been reported that youngsters of five have been seen riding pillion.

The craze has reached such a pitch that vigilante groups have threatened to stretch ropes across roads and footpaths to unseat them.

But today a police chief warned that such action could result in the children being killed.

Now Bradford housing chiefs are consulting lawyers to try to use a new law to stop the young lawbreakers - many of whom are under the age of prosecution.

Officers believe the authority could become one of the first in Britain to take out court injunctions against the riders who are aged up to 15 and carry pillion passengers as young as five.

Councillor Jim O'Neill, chairman of the Council's housing services sub-committee, said he had been in talks with the authority's enforcement team about getting the injunctions under the new Crime and Disorder Bill.

The Bill gives local authorities new powers to deal with unacceptable behaviour on their estates.

Coun O'Neill said: "The team has looked into this and it seems it is highly possible.

"If not we will take the strongest measures within our powers to deal with this. It is now coming up at every neighbourhood forum across the district and is a very serious problem.

"We have even had vigilantes wanting to deal with it by pulling ropes across roads.

"Some of the bikes are legally-owned but many have no insurance or tax. They are a menace." He said the bikers did not even stick to the roads and many minor accidents had been reported. They go on pavements, in snickets and tenants - especially old people - are terrified."

The Council could obtain court orders from the age of ten upwards preventing the nuisance for two years. A child safety order could also be placed on other children at risk through the behaviour.

Breach of the orders would be a criminal offence which could result in six months imprisonment by a magistrates court and fine of up to £5,000.

The double whammy is that tenants can be evicted by the Council if they are found guilty of criminal offences.

Today Superintendent David Collins, divisional commander at Eccleshill police station, warned vigilantes they could face prosecution.

He said: "It's the first I have heard of this, but anyone who we catch stretching ropes to halt riders will find themselves down at the police station. We have found that the most effective way of dealing with youngsters on trial bikes is to consult parents."

Glynis Gower, headteacher of Bowling Community College in East Bowling, said: "We don't just get kids riding around the school at night, they do it during the day when we are open.

"Although the number of kids on bikes goes in peaks and troughs it is a real issue. They're a real danger to themselves and anyone near them."

T&A Opinion

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