Page 6 - link magazine

6 swindonlink.com • June 2012
Police search for dangerous bikers Local Neighbourhood Justice

The problem of young Panels to trial from June
motorbike riders ille- Swindon has been selected by the Home Office and the Ministry of
gally using the River Justice as one of 16 pilot areas across the UK to test out a new com-
Ray Parkway con- munity-based approach to anti-social behaviour and low level crime,
tinues. involving members of the local neighbourhood participating in panels
But now the police
are hunting for two and implementing the principles of restorative justice.
teenagers caught on In June the first Swindon locality of the community who have been
camera terrorising pe- to take the Neighbourhood Justice affected by their actions.”
destrians using the Panel approach is North Central, Each panel will comprise three
footpath. comprising Penhill, Pinehurst, fully trained community members,
On Saturday 5 May Rodbourne and Gorse Hill, with the victim, other members of the
between 1.30pm and West Swindon coming on stream in public who have been affected, and
2pm near Shaw Forest July and North Swindon in October. the offender. There will also be an
Park, close to the reed Swindon Borough Council’s An- option to include a police officer,
beds, the riders on an ti-Social Behaviour manager Simon social worker or ASB council officer,
off-road bike made at Tearaways who tried to run over a pedestrian Evans is appealing for volunteers depending on the type of case.
least three runs on the same sec- police to urgently investigate. Any to get involved with the initiative Commenting on the risks in-
tion of footpath, riding at between assistance from the public to rapidly and act as panelists. He said: “We volved in volunteering, Simon
30mph and 35mph. apprehend these people will be wel- have already had over 40 members said: “There is a perceived level of
Two cyclists and four pedestrians come. I very much hope the police of the public express an interest risk for volunteers but none of the
were talking about the problem will be able to confiscate the bike in taking part in Neighbourhood evidence bears this out. The panels
when the biker accelerated towards to set an example. The River Ray Justice Panels. are problem solving forums rather
them. Parkway is not a trail bike route.” “Crime and anti-social behav- than courts, and panel members
One of the pedestrians stood in In 2007 Swindon Council erected iour are always top of the agenda are only facilitators rather than
the footpath waving his arms to try barriers to prevent motorbikes for communities and people are imposers of the contract between
and stop them, but quickly jumped being brought on to the parkway happy to put their hand up for a offenders and victims.”
aside when he realised that the rider route. Many were destroyed by van- common sense approach that re- All volunteers will receive an
had no intention of stopping before dals and were eventually removed quires offenders to take personal initial three days of training in
riding away. His wife managed to when a disabled cyclist lodged responsibility for what they have order to participate on the panels,
get a photo of the incident. an objection under the Disability done. In fact this is what has been with ongoing support and further
Shaw councillor Keith Williams Discrimination Act. shown to make it a more effective training.
is appealing for information to be If you can identify the people measure against low level crime. It’s To find out more about volunteer-
sent to the police. “I was shocked in the picture, call Wiltshire Police a lot tougher on the offender when ing contact Simon Evans, Anti So-
by the irresponsible anti-social by dialling 101 or Crimestoppers they have to explain themselves to cial Behaviour manager: SEvans@
behaviour which I have asked the 0800 555 111. their victims and to other members swindon.gov.uk or 01793 466733

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