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Noise from minibikes and motorbikes scrambling
Over the summer months the borough council’s Environmental
Health Team receives numerous complaints regarding the nuisance
caused by the noise of minibikes and motorbikes scrambling on land
and public paths.
Environmental Health, Community Safety, Hampshire Police and
Hampshire Fire and Rescue are working together to reduce the
nuisance this brings to residents.
However, it has become apparent that some riders totally
disregard the law and are prepared to disturb whole neighbourhoods
with their anti-social behaviour.
Havant Borough Council together with its partners needs your
help. If you are bothered by such activities and nuisance, we would
like to hear from you. The more detailed information you are
prepared to pass on to us, the more effective our response and
outcome will be. The information we require when reporting
minibikes and motorbikes is: the rider’s name and address (if
known), a description of the rider (the person or clothing), the
make, colour or any distinctive markings of the bike and where the
bike is being ridden.
What can Havant Borough Council do about motorbike
nuisance?
Without your help, we cannot do much. However if you are
prepared to help, then under the Environmental Protection Act 1990
if we are satisfied that a nuisance exists we can serve an
Abatement Notice on the person or the landowner prohibiting the
recurrence of the nuisance.
Failure to comply with such a notice is an offence under law.
Any rider who has been served with an Abatement Notice and is
caught again by the authorities can then be prosecuted and
fined.
We also have the power to seize and crush “noise-making
equipment”, which includes motorbikes whose owners have been served
with an Abatement Notice, if this is necessary to stop the
nuisance. However, if motorbikes are used on public highways, only
the police can deal with these riders and bikes.
What else can be done?
The riding of minibikes and motorbikes on private land without
consent is in itself a criminal offence and offenders can be fined
up to £1000. Although riders may have permission from the
landowner, a nuisance may still exist to local residents. In such a
case, both the rider and the landowner may be served with Abatement
Notices.
The police also have powers to stop bikers and confiscate
vehicles if they believe a vehicle is being used in an anti-social
manner.
Please report any such activities through the 101 non-emergency
telephone number.