Calls for action on anti-social e-scooter users in Cumbria

PCC Peter McCall (left) and Councillor Chris Wills (right) called for action on anti-social e-scooter users
Author: Gareth Cavanagh (LDRS)Published 10th Feb 2022

Call have been launched to put politics aside and address growing concerns about anti-social behaviour.

Chris Wills, Carlisle City Council member for Currock and Upperby, has called for proactive action against anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Wills said that there is an anti-social behaviour problem in the city, in particular he names irresponsible use of e-scooters as a real problem.

He has observed young people riding e-scooters on the road and trying to negotiate traffic on the city centre, causing a risk to themselves and others.

“There’s an old saying in road safety, ‘it’s going to end in disaster’ and I think this one will do,” he said.

The councillor has called for cross-party and cross-organisation work to educate young people and effectively address anti-social behaviour.

“I think we should be working cross party much more than we are. This is one of those subjects where we should be able to take-off the football scarf and work together.”

Cllr Wills called for better regulation and guidance for e-scooter use as well as cross-party efforts to engage with the community.

“We’re getting so used to this bad behaviour that we’re letting it pass by. In my campaign the apathy was really disturbing and it’s not confined to this county.

“It might well come to seeing more cameras around the place but before we get to the imposition of more regulation, whatever it is, we could start with people behaving better.

“There’s only so much we can do a lot of this is about people’s individual behaviour.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall welcomed the idea of a joint approach to anti-social behaviour, saying: “It’s a shared responsibility. Neighbours, schools, police, we all have a part to play. Where we can we should provide the support for parents.”

The commissioner said that clubs, community centres and sports teams play a vital part in keeping young people off the streets. “Sports clubs, cadets, anything that occupies kids in a constructive way.

“We have an obligation to do what we can and we can absolutely work together, it includes housing, councils and I think we need a joint vision.

“I do think we should have more sanctions to make sure parents do take responsibility.”

Police bosses were told of an “explosion in anti-social behaviour” at a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel in January and said that they are hard at work to tackle the issue.

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