The child motor-cyclists who are reported to be tearing around Bradford's estates are proving to be a real menace. They don't just put themselves at risk by riding on the roads. They also create a danger to pedestrians by riding their untaxed and uninsured bikes on the pavements and up and down snickets. An increasing number of minor accidents are being reported. How long before there is a major one?

It is appalling that their parents can have so little control over these illegal young bikers, or so little sense of responsibility, to allow them to behave like this. They need to be stopped.

However, the remedy suggested by some vigilantes is equally irresponsible. It is no solution to string ropes across the roads and pavements to dismount the riders and their pillion passengers. That is the way to end up facing a charge of manslaughter.

The Council is right to be pursuing the measures available to it under the new Crime and Disorder Bill and seeking injunctions to allow it to deal with this problem. The Bill is designed to enable action to be taken to tackle anti-social behaviour which affects the community. The antics of these illegal bikers certainly come under that heading.

However, if the Council is granted the necessary injunctions, there is little point in it having the power to act if it cannot enforce it. The offenders need to be caught first. That is the best way the public can help, rather than by taking their own reckless measures - by reporting illegal motor-cyclists promptly to the police who, along with the courts, must then treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.