The Christmas festivities are fast approaching, and as tradition entails , parents are fixing to buy their kids presents to make the occasion memorable. However, Nottinghamshire Police and safety teams, as well as the Newark and Sherwood District Council community, are issuing a warning to parents looking to buy dirt bikes as Christmas presents for their kids. They cite prospective hazards due to the unavailability of enough spaces to ride these off-road motorcycles safely and in accordance with the law. It is estimated that thousands of parents in these areas are thinking about where to buy pit bikes as the festivities draw closer.

These authorities further indicated that the number of riders unlawfully using dirt bikes on public and private land has exploded over the last few years. That said, they are warning that improper use of such off-road vehicles could result in severe injuries, or worse still, death.

Statistics indicate that a lot of cases encompass utilization of off-road bikes, pit bikes, and quads that are neither taxed nor insured and present a big risk to the safety of the general public. Some of the noted areas in Sherwood and Newark where accidents occur are Quarry Farm, Newark, Sustrans cycle path at Balderton, Bowbridge Road and sections of Ollerton, Winthorpe, Boughton, Walesby including the old colliery site at Rainworth.

The phenomenon prompted the police, Forestry Commission and the Council to draw up an ambitious strategy dubbed ‘Operation Jericho” to neutralize the problem. The effort by the three bodies led to the seizure of 7 dirt bikes this summer as well as the installation of security cameras in key areas.

The Newark and Sherwood District Council anti-social-behavior officer, Terry Bailey, gave a strong statement, saying that any parent thinking of buying such bikes as presents should reconsider because there will be consequences. He recognized that the dirt bikes are relatively expensive and it would be a big shame and loss if the authorities impounded them as a result of improper use. He also warned local authority tenants that they will be guilty of breaching their tenancy if found disregarding the directive, and that could result in them having to part with their homes.

Louise Clarke, an inspector from the Newark police, also had his take on the dirt bike menace, saying parents should think hard before making a decision to buy dirt bikes as Christmas gifts for their children. He acknowledged that it is a steep learning curve to train children to ride these bikes safely. He further pointed out that improper use of dirt bikes could result in the bikes’ removal and the subsequent imposition of fines.