Youth ride-outs are being 'monitored' by police

Police have issued a community alert, warning young riders about safety concerns, following a controversial ride out which took place through the city on Saturday afternoon.

Plymouth Live reported on one particular incident on Saturday which saw a woman who is 36 weeks pregnant allegedly harassed by what she described as a large group of boys in bikes in the Lanhydrock Road area of the city.

She encountered them heading towards her car on both sides of the road and after honking her horn at them and shouting, she was left in fear after they "started shouting and swearing at me, ramming into my car with their push bikes and punching the windows". 

She said it left her suffering a "mini-breakdown" and her eight-year-old daughter "petrified".

A spokesperson for the police said they are currently not treating the ride-out by the youths as a crime at this stage and were "monitoring" the situation.

It is understood police call handlers received numerous complaints from members of the public who reported "40 - 50 youths on bikes" heading through the city, pulling "wheelies".

The community alert noted: "Devon and Cornwall Police have been made aware of a number of reports involving large numbers of young people on push bikes meeting for a ‘ride out’ and then cycling across the city.

"Some of the reports received and CCTV viewed have identified that a small number of the young riders have been cycling in groups across pavements, within multi-story car parks and shopping centres, endangering pedestrians, contravening traffic signs and other offences which are unlawful, anti-social and in some circumstances could be considered as dangerous.

"The police do not want to stop young people enjoying themselves and riding their bikes together, however it is essential that riders do so lawfully and pay attention to other road users including pedestrians.

"One of the force priorities is to create a safe, enjoyable community for everyone to enjoy therefore we encourage parents to engage with their children to ensure they understand the laws when cycling on the highway and to ensure that they stay safe on their bike including wearing the appropriate safety equipment.

"Police are working closely with other agencies to address concerns from the community and to ensure that young people can continue to enjoy riding their bike safely."

Plymouth Live has learned that the ride outs have been organised via social media for the past few months, with a small groups of youngsters inviting other bike riders to join them for a recreational ride through the city. Despite carrying out several such ride-outs involving dozens of youngsters, it is understood this was the first ride-out which has caused consternation and complaints to the police.

Police have appealed for information regarding the matter, releasing a log number 588 of June 8 - but have emphasised that at this stage they are not investigating a crime.

Plymouth Live has asked police what preparations they have put in place regarding the forthcoming social media-advertised ride-out on June 16, starting at noon outside the Flannels store in the city centre and another on June 23.

We await a response.

Similar ride-outs in other parts of the country have caused equal consternation among motorists, as recently highlighted following one such event in London, named Bikestormz

The biannual ride-out in central London sees thousands of people bring central London to a halt as they ride together in protest against violent crime. Co-founder Mac Ferrari, aged 35, said last December: "It's about getting the kids together without fighting.

"Together they can put down the knives, just for the day."

During the very first BikeStormz in 2014, more than 4,000 people - mainly teenagers, but also children as young as nine - took part.

According to organisers the idea was to give young people an alternative to crime through bike riding. In the last four years, the movement has spread to cities across the UK from Birmingham to Liverpool, and to Paris and Amsterdam.

According to the Twitter account of the Metropolitan Police's Borough & Bankside Police, the regular ride-outs are being similarly monitored by officers, but from what appears to a more supportive position.

In a response to one correspondent who praised police, they replied: "It's a tricky balance, to give the kids a chance to have some freedom & expression whilst protecting the public as best we can. If we were not involved, the event would go ahead anyway with less control... TBH 99.9% of the kids were FANTASTIC! sorry if 0.01% don't agree"