Scramblers being driven illegally driven in public parks, putting children and park users at serious risk, is on the increase in the Swords area.
Reports of scrambler use on the Brackenstown side of the Ward River Valley have happened on successive days over the last week.
This comes not long after the pitches of Swords Manor FC were damaged by scrambler use, leading the club to temporarily rent other pitches.
Gardaí have increased patrols in the area and are asking for the public to help them identify where the scramblers are coming from.
Garda Inspector Noleen McKenna told the Fingal Joint Policing Committee today that information from the public is key to dealing with this issue.
If you know the location of scrambler bikes that are being used illegally, please report it to Swords Garda Station on 01 666 4700.
You can pass on information anonymously.
Cllr Ian Carey said:
“Unfortunately there are households in Swords that are allowing their teenagers ride motorbikes illegally in our parks.
“This needs to stop. Allowing young people behave like this is putting children, park users, and themselves in grave danger. There are a relatively small number of people using scramblers and they are creating havoc for thousands of residents and park users in Swords.
“I’m convinced that we can stop them by getting the gardaí better information and allowing them to target the households directly. That’s the message coming from the gardaí. So if you know of a house where theses scramblers are coming from please call the garda station in Swords or if you don’t feel comfortable doing that you can let a public representative know and they can pass on the information.
“It is also worth mentioning that shortly new laws will be in place which give the gardaí greater powers to seize bikes that are being used illegally. They will no longer need a warrant to enter the side or rear of a home to seize a scrambler. But again these laws still need the public to pass on information.”
