The authority says those caught could also be named and shamed in time. The Public Space Protection Order is for the whole of Medway.
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00:00 They're in our car parks, streets and wrecks but Medway Council says they're
00:05 cracking down on nuisance vehicles. At these playing fields in Chatham
00:09 residents say there's a problem with people riding motorbikes illegally.
00:14 "Yeah I just worry about my safety and the safety of my dog and not only that
00:18 sometimes I come over here with my granddaughter and she's only three and
00:21 then I have to worry about her as well." "I did at one point stop coming to this
00:26 field to walk the dog. The noise is just really annoying. You could be peacefully
00:30 walking your dog and you just hear a 'roar'." "I don't like to see them ripping up the
00:34 football pitches or going anywhere near people with dogs in there." "Sometimes it
00:39 can get a bit out of hand, sometimes they're a little bit self-centered but
00:43 generally speaking most of the ones I've come across have been not too bad."
00:47 Our cameras didn't catch any today but an ex-account keeps track of their presence
00:51 but we did see these dumped bikes pass us by saying where they've only been
00:56 here for a few weeks. "Now this is one of two burnt out motorbikes on the
01:02 recreational ground and this comes with a license plate as well which we're not
01:06 going to show to you but I have checked it and there is no MOT and the tax ran
01:12 out last May." At the start of April Medway Council introduced a public space
01:17 protection order. Anybody caught cruising, going to car meets or riding
01:21 illegally could face a £100 fine and be taken to court. "So it will be
01:28 effective, we will see increased number of fines, I've made that public pledge, we
01:33 will work in partnership with the police, you'll see hopefully a naming and
01:36 shaming of key people who've been doing this as well so that we can get that
01:40 culture in the community that people who do this behaviour will be challenged. Do
01:44 I think this is a magic pill that will sort the problem out tomorrow? I am
01:48 assured that that won't happen. This is going to be a long-term change in
01:52 culture that is needed around vehicles and how we use them on our public space."
01:56 But it's taken a year for the Unitary Council to bring in these powers
02:01 following a consultation last year. "This was initiated by the Conservative and
02:06 last Conservative administration well before the local election last February
02:09 went to consultation. We thought we would have had this in place a long time ago
02:12 you know but you know I'm glad it's here now I mean it's better late than never
02:17 but it's taking too long, too long." Residents at this wreck say they've seen
02:21 these powers before but nothing for decades has stopped the bikes. But with
02:27 further enforcement officers being trained Medway Council hopes this will
02:30 make a difference. Gabriel Morris in Medway.