Luke Akehurst MP on new police powers against off-road bikes

Last year, the steady stream of ASB casework coming into my office made it clear that, without decisive action, this problem wasn’t going away. I spoke with local police to get their view on how best to improve the situation – particularly in relation to the anti-social use of off-road bikes – and was surprised to learn that officers were restricted in their ability to seize these vehicles.

I therefore introduced the Off-road Bikes (Police Powers) Bill.

Although the bill did not make it into the statute book, I’m pleased to see that the Government accepted the case I made for more police powers and have taken steps in the new Crime and Policing Bill to allow police to seize bikes used in an anti-social way without first issuing a warning – something they were previously unable to do. This is a step forward in reducing the presence of these disruptive bikes in our towns and villages.

The Crime and Policing Bill demonstrates the Government’s commitment to tackling ASB. The bill aims to address other areas of ASB by creating new respect orders and introducing changes in the law on low-value shop theft and abuse towards retail staff. Furthermore, the bill will strengthen police powers, support retail and public safety and will include broader criminal justice reforms.

The Government’s Safer Streets Mission – which aims to tackle violence against women and girls and halve knife crime in the next decade – will be supported by measures in the bill.

The Government has also launched a Safer Streets Summer Initiative, and I am pleased that both Chester-le-Street and Stanley will benefit from a major blitz on town centre crime. Officers will be present in town centres during peak times, there will be more patrols and greater penalties for troublemakers. County Durham is also expected to benefit from an additional 26 police officers.

Tackling ASB locally requires a collaborative approach, and I continue to work closely with Durham Constabulary, Durham County Council and Karbon Homes to resolve individual cases. I am assisting several constituents with the ASB issues that are impacting their wellbeing and the places that they live and am pleased to have been able to make a real difference for them.

In the autumn, I will be holding a joint advice surgery with Joy Allen, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner. Any North Durham resident in need of support or with concerns is welcome to book an appointment to come and meet us. This is an opportunity for community voices to be heard, the advice surgery is part of my wider commitment to improving the lives of residents of Chester-le-Street, Stanley, Lanchester and the surrounding villages of North Durham.

I continue to hold regular advice surgeries across North Durham and any resident seeking help can contact me for an appointment on luke.akehurst.mp@parliament.uk or by calling 0191 371 8834. I regularly update my website www.lukeakehurstmp.co.uk and am always happy to visit local organisations such as schools or small businesses.