A town has backed its MP in declaring war on balaclava-clad yobs who terrorise their community on souped-up e-bikes.
Residents of Darlington, County Durham, and the towns that surround it, are plagued by gangs of youths on off-road and electric bikes who cause havoc while disguising themselves behind balaclavas and ski masks.
The issue has become so prevalent that traffic cops have coined the term the ‘Balaclava Club’ as they wage a daily battle to keep the public safe from riders as young as 12 years old.
There was a warning that the danger riders are modifying standard electric bikes, buying kits online that can make them go at double their intended speed.
Darlington’s Labour MP Lola McEvoy last week demanded an immediate clampdown, urging the local authority to raise £100 fines for anyone wearing a balaclava or face covering to harass or intimidate others.
Under her proposed public space protection order (PSPO), face coverings worn for religious reasons would be exempt.
Councils in Surrey, Essex and the West Midlands have recently taken similar action as part of a balaclava crackdown.
In Darlington, fed-up local people backed their MP’s tough stance.
Alison Brydon, 61, said: ‘I agree with her completely, I don’t like the town any more after living here for 40 years.
Police apprehend a masked e-bike rider racing through the streets of Darlington, Co Durham
This is the moment police laid a trap to bring balaclava-clad youths to a stop in Darlington
Over the past six months, the residents of the quaint town of Darlington have been terrorised by groups of balaclava-clad teenagers who harass and intimidate people – including young families
‘It’s concerning to see kids roaming around on bikes intimidating people as they go about their business.
‘Nothing seems to stop them, they’re not scared of authority so how do you make it stop? I think the fines is a good idea although I expect it will be the parents who end up paying them.
‘Something has to be done because people are sick of their town being ruined by antisocial behaviour.’
Politics student Jessica Morgan, 20, said her neighbourhood, Branksome, is plagued by masked bikers.
She said: ‘It’s really dangerous, not just for people on foot that they might crash into but for the kids on the bikes themselves.
‘They ride around on these bikes wearing nothing but a balaclava to protect them and when you come across them in a car you can sometimes barely see them in the road.
‘I’m often concerned that I might hit one of them, because they ride so recklessly.
‘At night you will even see groups of them come riding into the centre of town as if they own the place. I think the MP has got it exactly right, something urgently needs to be done.’
Graeme Huston, 59, manager of the Wheelbase bike shop in Darlington, warned that the young bikers were modifying standard electric bikes to make them faster.
He said: ‘Electric bikes are quite powerful machines but they’re restricted to a top speed of about 15 and a half miles per hour.
‘But we’re aware that these bikes are being derestricted using kits that can easily be bought online to allow them to travel faster.
‘So if you have a bike that’s capable of doing perhaps 25 to 30mph you suddenly have a much more dangerous situation.’
The youths ride through Darlington, often on electric-powered bikes or quad bikes, zigzagging in and out of traffic while doing wheelies and other dangerous manoeuvres
Residents in Darlington (pictured) have backed their local MP to ban balaclavas in the town
Police are seen chasing balaclava-clad youths through Darlington, Co Durham
Jim Cunningham, 64, said: ‘Wearing balaclavas not only gives them anonymity, they also give them bravado.
‘You will invariably see these young men zigzagging in and out of traffic on these electric bikes, it’s incredibly dangerous.’
Ms McEvoy sparked the debate at the weekend, saying: ‘So many residents have brought [balaclava-clad youths] up with me and that in parks and across the town they are using balaclavas to hide from the police and it’s intimidating, people don’t want to go to the park with their kids. I want to see action taken on it.
‘The police said there’s been 100 incidents last year where balaclavas were mentioned and that’s in the town centre alone. There’s been 800 cases of anti-social behaviour in Darlington between July and October this year.’
In regular posts, Durham Roads and Armed Policing unit (DRAP) keep the public updated on their encounters with masked yobs.
One recent account came after a balaclava-clad rider refused to stop on a disused former rail track in Willington, near Darlington.
The DRAP team said: ‘Earlier this afternoon the rider of this off road bike failed to stop for one of ouroff road motorcycles on the old lines in Willington.
‘After efforts to remove the rider were initially unsuccessful, a pursuit was engaged in along the lines before going back on road at Hunwick.
‘Thankfully the member of the Balaclava Club decided to introduce himself to the pavement so we didn’t have to. He was then apprehended.
Police are cracking down on balaclava-clad youths. Here, a masked rider goes flying in May this year
Graeme Huston (pictured), 59, manager of the Wheelbase bike shop in Darlington, warned that the young bikers were modifying standard electric bikes to make them faster
‘Bike seized, rider off to court for numerous offences including failing to stop and not wearing a helmet. Another that should just have stopped.’
In another incident near Darlington town centre two teens were pursued for 15 minutes.
The DRAP team said: ‘A suspected stolen moped went by our off road motorcycles, two up, both wearing balaclavas and the reg plate snapped off.
‘They failed to stop and a 15 minute pursuit was engaged in where they road dangerously on and off the road.’
The stolen bike was eventually stopped with the use of a Stinger device which punctured its tyres.
The DRAP spokesman concluded: ‘Two teenage members of the Balaclava Club were arrested and are now in custody.’
Inspector David Littlefair, from Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, said: ‘We have received complaints from residents who say they feel intimidated by people who wear balaclavas and cause antisocial behaviour.
‘The culprits are mainly youths, and they wear these masks to try and conceal their own identity. While they may not always be actively participating in criminal behaviour, their actions are making people feel unsafe and unable to use public spaces comfortably.
Alison Brydon (pictured), 61, said: ‘I agree with her completely, I don’t like the town any more after living here for 40 years.
‘Police officers can ask people to remove a face covering under existing legislation, but this is only temporary and is more associated to people who are actively committing a crime.
‘We are in the very early stages of discussions with Darlington Borough Council to explore the options available to us.
‘We are also looking at whether initiatives banning the wearing of balaclavas and face masks, which have been introduced in local authority areas across the country, have been beneficial in reducing antisocial behaviour.
‘Everyone has a right to feel safe where they live, and we share the views of most people who believe that this behaviour has no place in our communities.
‘We welcome any new initiative that could tackle antisocial behaviour and I look forward to having further discussions with the council.’
Darlington Borough Council said it was working with the police to address people’s concerns.
