Police Issue Warnings And Seize Vehicle Under Operation Freedom

Police in the Dover district have stopped 17 motor bikes and mini motos and seized a vehicle as Operation Freedown continues to target nuisance and illegal riding.

The Kent Police off-road bike team and local Neighbourhood officers have been targeting known locations to deal with nuisance vehicles under Operation Freedown.

Two youths were stopped in the Poulton Close area of St Radigund's, Dover, on Saturday afternoon and given section 59 warnings. A father and his young son were also caught on a mini moto nearby and the father received a warning.

Later in the day, three adults from Ashford were stopped near to the Tilmanstone colliery site. Also in that area two youths, one from Elvington and one from Dover, were officially warned for riding in contravention of Section 59 of the Police Reform Act.

On Sunday two youths were stopped for riding a mini moto in Cypress Grove, Elvington and both were given a Section 59 warning.

All those who were given a Section 59 warning now face having their vehicle seized if they commit any further offences.

That is what happened to a 16-year-old youth from Dover who was issued with a Section 59 Warning on Monday 12 March, only to be seen riding it again on Tuesday 13 March in the Astor Avenue area. His bike has now been seized and officers are making enquiries into possible motoring offences.

Operation Freedown is run jointly by Kent Police in partnership with Dover District Council and is funded by the Home Office under the RESPECT initiative.

Sergeant Guy Thompson of the Dover District Neighbourhood Unit said "We will continue to target those areas where nuisance motorbikes are found. These riders are a nuisance and we will seize any repeat offending vehicles.

"Operation Freedown will continue over the next few months and we will be working with our partners to reduce this problem and work with the community."

Operation Freedown was set up in response to the number of complaints about nuisance bikes riding without any regard for legitimate bridle ways and path users.

All mini bikes are classified as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and cannot be used on a highway or other place to which the public have access including pavements and parks.

In order to ride a Mini Moto on the road the driver will require a valid driving licence and a compulsory basic training certificate, insurance, road tax, a registration plate, an MOT certificate if the bike more than three years old, an approved exhaust system and a motorcycle helmet.

Anyone who would like further information can contact the Neighbourhood Policing team on 01304 240055.