(File) Hawke's Bay police fear an increase in people riding dirt bikes illegally on roads and footpaths will result in more injuries. Photo: Supplied / NZ police
Hawke's Bay police fear an increase in kids riding dirt bikes illegally on roads and footpaths will result in more people being seriously injured.
Last week an eight-year-old child suffered a broken bone in his leg after being hit by a bike in Flaxmere, and a woman was struck by a bike outside a cafe in Hastings resulting moderate injuries.
The two young dirt bike riders who hit the woman received critical and serious injuries.
Senior Sergeant Ross Smith told RNZ he's worried there will be more accidents.
"If we don't start taking some sort of positive action this behaviour will only increase and no doubt there will be other people injured and hurt as a result of that," he said.
Smith said the behaviour was "dangerous, and frankly stupid", and the riders were of all ages.
"Some of the riders are as young as 10 or 12-years-old, right through to young adults and adults. They are riding the bikes at speed and are not wearing crash helmets or any safety gear.
"They are putting themselves at risk as well as a whole [lot] of people in our community," he said.
The riders were using dirt bikes illegally on roads, footpaths and parks, mainly in the Flaxmere and Camberley areas. Police said the motorbikes were often unregistered, not warranted and some were in poor condition and not road worthy.
"These riders have little regard for other road users, pedestrians or families using the parks. And the public are paying the price," said Smith.
"The police can't solve this without the community's help"
Hawke's Bay police are urging the public to report any unlawful dirt bike riding, to try and prevent further injuries.
"When police are involved the riders then ride in a manner that's even more dangerous to the public and themselves so it makes it very difficult for us to contain this type of behaviour," he said.
Senior Sergeant Smith told RNZ police will take enforcement action when necessary, but need the public to help track down the riders.
"The police can't solve this without the community's help. We need to know where these bikes are going to, the addresses, or where they are coming from.
"Any videos, photos or dash cam foootage of these people and dirt bikes can be sent to police anonymously," said Smith.
People who witness any of this kind of behaviour can report it to police on 111 if it is happening now, or through 105.police.govt.nz if it is after the fact.
Smith said police are unsure why they are seeing an increase in dangerous and illegal dirt bike riding in Hawke's Bay roads, but believe it is a trend amongst younger people that they are copying from other regions and cities.
"We are also urging parents of children who use dirt bikes to make sure they do so in a safe way, otherwise more people will get hurt," he said.
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