RESIDENTS are being “driven nuts” by youths riding anti-socially in an area of Poole after a rise in reports to the police. 

Police say they have seen an increase in reports of off-road bikes being used by children on public roads and open spaces in the Turlin Moor area of Hamworthy in Poole. 

On Thursday, March 16, officers seized an off-road bike they had previously seen being ridden by a child, though police said he has not been identified and prosecution for a road traffic offence will be handed out if he is. 

Hamworthy ward councillor Julie Bagwell said: “Kids get bored and will go out on motorbikes and then they grow up and now their kids will eventually do it; it’s a generational thing really. 

Bournemouth Echo: A motorbike being seized by the police last weekA motorbike being seized by the police last week (Image: Poole Police)

“They aren’t doing it as much anymore, but when they were doing it a lot, the residents closest to Turlin Moor would really be impacted by it.  

“They hear the engines all the time and it would drive them nuts.” 

Read more: Sports club issues plea over 'dangerous' racing at Turlin Moor

The deputy mayor of Poole called for greater awareness of safety around motorcross bike usage, saying she and residents have often seen youths riding without protective clothing such as helmets.  

“It would be lovely to find somewhere for them to do it, but, and this sounds harsh, I would rather they rode on the recreational ground because they won’t hurt themselves as much if they were to crash on crash rather than roads,” she added. 

Bournemouth Echo: Turlin Moor Recreation GroundTurlin Moor Recreation Ground (Image: Daily Echo)

Fellow ward councillor Daniel Butt said: “It is a very difficult issue because the police can't chase down the motorbikes because there is a risk of injuring the people on the bikes. 

“It is a serious issue. We need to stop them going onto the recreational ground. The grounds are well used by everybody.”  

Read more: Motorbikes ride 'recklessly' on Turlin Moor recreation ground

A spokesperson for Poole Police said there is a risk to both rider and the wider public and they are working with local groups and the council to tackle the issue. 

The spokesperson added: “This overall issue is dealt with as an NPT (Neighbourhood Policing Team) priority. But we continue to require contact from the public around this issue.  

“Your contact data helps us map hotspot days, times and locations, enabling us to feed wider assets, including the use of drones, into this issue.  

“If youths are riding these bikes on a road or public open space, this justifies a 999 call. If you have footage of offenders, you can submit it to us in due course.”