Cops from Paisley Community Policing Team have been using their quad bikes to target anti-social behaviour this week.
Officers responded to numerous complaints yesterday of a male allegedly illegally riding a scrambler bike on the cycle path between Houston and Lochwinnoch, causing annoyance to members of the public.
Community Policing officers traced a 19-year-old male and was reported to the Procurator Fiscal regarding numerous Road Traffic Offences.
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
His scrambler bike was seized under anti-social behaviour legislation.
The teen has also been issued an Anti-Social Behaviour Notice which is in place for the next 12 months and prohibits him using any other vehicle in an anti-social manner or that vehicle could also be seized.
We reported how a warning has been issued over the illegal use of off-road vehicles.
Police previously seized a 16-year-old boy’s dirt bike in Candren Road, Paisley, as part of a crackdown on antisocial behaviour.
Trained officers are now using two marked quad bikes to patrol the area as part of a joint venture between Police Scotland and Renfrewshire Council.
Police say they were forced into the move, because of a rising number of reports on anti-social behaviour in the area’s green spaces, including parks.
Paisley-based Inspector Laura Hamill, said: “Over recent months, the volume of police reports and concerns from residents in Renfrewshire with regards to criminal and antisocial behaviour within woodland, parkland and open spaces has been a consistent issue.
“This includes the illegal use of off-road vehicles and youth disorder within communities.
“I am very pleased to say that a joint venture between Police Scotland and Renfrewshire Council is being launched to target the disruption of this activity and to enable education.
“Two marked quad bikes are now on patrol with trained police officers within the Paisley area.
“This is a tactic that has proven successful in many other areas of Scotland and we are pleased to bring this venture to the Renfrewshire communities.”
In June we also reported that another teenager in Paisley had his dirt bike seized by police.
Officers took action after receiving reports the 14-year-old had been riding the bike in an ‘antisocial and dangerous’ manner.
It has been said that the youth’s behaviour caused ‘untold misery’ to local residents.
Following the incident, the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Police Division has urged members of the public to familiarise themselves with laws surrounding off-road bike usage.
A police spokesperson said: “It is an offence to ride an off-road bike like this in a public park or other types of common land, footpaths and bridleways.
“It is also an offence to ride an unregistered off-road bike on a road or other public place.
“To ride on private land you should ask the permission of the landowner.
“If you need advice on where it is safe and lawful to use an off-road bike please contact us on 101.”
Download the FREE Renfrewshire Live app now for all the latest news, features and sport in your area. Available on both Android and Apple. D ownload here: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial
