A SOUTH WALES Police Inspector has told a meeting of the Vale Council’s Community Liaison Committee that drones are being used to identify riders of illegal Sur-Ron electric bikes in Barry.
Sur-Ron bikes weigh around seven stone and have a top speed of approximately 15mph with limiters, but they can easily be modified to reach speeds of up to 75mph.
During the last few years, the bikes have become an increasing menace in the Vale, and Dinas Powys Community Council member Cllr Malcolm Phillips (Plaid Cymru, Cross Common) addressed the meeting on 7th April where he described the impact the bikes were having in the area, especially around Cae Canol, and he urged police to increase patrols in the evenings. Councillors from other parts of the Vale also gave instances of similar problems in their areas.
Inspector Gareth Childs told councillors that drone use has already been successful in identifying culprits. He said: “Throughout March we’ve been running a drone operation. That’s mainly been targeting the antisocial behaviour of Sur-Rons, which we’ve identified in various wards throughout the Barry area and also in the Rhoose area.
“We hope to carry out further operations to detect the antisocial behaviour of Sur-Rons throughout April and the coming months.”
Inspector Childs was also made aware of the use of e-bikes in Victoria Park, Cadoxton, which pose a risk to pedestrians as they make little noise as they approach. He said that in some instances, the culprits were local and that police were dependent on public information to locate and seize the bikes. He said: “The e-bikes are a problem, I acknowledge that. They don’t stop for us. We’re not trained to pursue them, so it’s about identifying who the offenders are.”
The police’s annual summer enforcement campaign, Operation Street, sees more officers deployed to coastal areas including Barry Island and Southerndown, and Inspector Childs confirmed this year’s operation will be extended across the Vale: “We’re going to police the whole of the Vale coastline, not just particular areas.
“There will be extra officers on to safeguard the coastline throughout the summer period.”
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