Latest news with #AdamPipe
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Search for Shakedown bikers who 'flouted safety'
A police force has said it recorded about 50 motoring offences during a major motorcycle event. After a three-year break, the Southend Shakedown - which attracts hundreds of bikers - returned to the city in April. Essex Police and the city's council have praised most riders who went to the Easter Monday rally, but the force has appealed for help to trace those spotted acting dangerously. "If these riders act this way when they attend a popular public event, I have grave concerns as to how they behave on the road on a day-to-day basis," said Adam Pipe, head of roads policing. He added: "The overwhelming majority of bikers who took part in the Southend Shakedown did so responsibly – but we cannot ignore those who flouted road safety. "In 2025 alone, we've seen the tragic loss of more than 20 lives [on the roads]. "That number is heartbreaking, and we're determined to do all we can to stop more lives being lost." At the Shakedown, officers spotted 23 illegal, obscured or missing number plates and dealt with one "fail to stop" incident. The force said there were two careless riding incidents, and five riders without insurance. There were four seizures under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, as well as one seizure for antisocial driving. Police also dealt with untaxed vehicles, dangerous tyres, invalid MOTs, two minor collisions and criminal damage. After reviewing footage, officers identified 16 additional incidents of dangerous driving. Essex Police said it was hoping to track down those involved and urged anyone with information to contact them. Daniel Cowan, the Labour leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: "We want Shakedown to have a positive future in Southend, and that means keeping everyone safe and setting the right example for the years ahead." He added: "The return of Shakedown was a huge success. "Thousands of people came to Southend, families enjoyed the day, and seafront traders reported a welcome boost in business." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Much-loved biker event makes comeback Bikers delighted with much-loved Shakedown's return Seafront motorcycle rally to return after hiatus Essex Police
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Search for Shakedown bikers who 'flouted safety'
A police force has said it recorded about 50 motoring offences during a major motorcycle event. After a three-year break, the Southend Shakedown - which attracts hundreds of bikers - returned to the city in April. Essex Police and the city's council have praised most riders who went to the Easter Monday rally, but the force has appealed for help to trace those spotted acting dangerously. "If these riders act this way when they attend a popular public event, I have grave concerns as to how they behave on the road on a day-to-day basis," said Adam Pipe, head of roads policing. He added: "The overwhelming majority of bikers who took part in the Southend Shakedown did so responsibly – but we cannot ignore those who flouted road safety. "In 2025 alone, we've seen the tragic loss of more than 20 lives [on the roads]. "That number is heartbreaking, and we're determined to do all we can to stop more lives being lost." At the Shakedown, officers spotted 23 illegal, obscured or missing number plates and dealt with one "fail to stop" incident. The force said there were two careless riding incidents, and five riders without insurance. There were four seizures under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, as well as one seizure for antisocial driving. Police also dealt with untaxed vehicles, dangerous tyres, invalid MOTs, two minor collisions and criminal damage. After reviewing footage, officers identified 16 additional incidents of dangerous driving. Essex Police said it was hoping to track down those involved and urged anyone with information to contact them. Daniel Cowan, the Labour leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: "We want Shakedown to have a positive future in Southend, and that means keeping everyone safe and setting the right example for the years ahead." He added: "The return of Shakedown was a huge success. "Thousands of people came to Southend, families enjoyed the day, and seafront traders reported a welcome boost in business." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Much-loved biker event makes comeback Bikers delighted with much-loved Shakedown's return Seafront motorcycle rally to return after hiatus Essex Police
BBC News
09-05-2025
- BBC News
Search for Southend Shakedown bikers who 'flouted safety'
A police force has said it recorded about 50 motoring offences during a major motorcycle a three-year break, the Southend Shakedown - which attracts hundreds of bikers - returned to the city in Police and the city's council have praised most riders who went to the Easter Monday rally, but the force has appealed for help to trace those spotted acting dangerously."If these riders act this way when they attend a popular public event, I have grave concerns as to how they behave on the road on a day-to-day basis," said Adam Pipe, head of roads policing. He added: "The overwhelming majority of bikers who took part in the Southend Shakedown did so responsibly – but we cannot ignore those who flouted road safety."In 2025 alone, we've seen the tragic loss of more than 20 lives [on the roads]. "That number is heartbreaking, and we're determined to do all we can to stop more lives being lost." At the Shakedown, officers spotted 23 illegal, obscured or missing number plates and dealt with one "fail to stop" incident. The force said there were two careless riding incidents, and five riders without were four seizures under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, as well as one seizure for antisocial also dealt with untaxed vehicles, dangerous tyres, invalid MOTs, two minor collisions and criminal reviewing footage, officers identified 16 additional incidents of dangerous Police said it was hoping to track down those involved and urged anyone with information to contact Cowan, the Labour leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: "We want Shakedown to have a positive future in Southend, and that means keeping everyone safe and setting the right example for the years ahead."He added: "The return of Shakedown was a huge success. "Thousands of people came to Southend, families enjoyed the day, and seafront traders reported a welcome boost in business." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Drivers urged to be safe after 22 fatal crashes on Essex roads so far this year
ESSEX Police are urging people to stay safe on the roads after 22 fatal crashes so far in 2025 – a 'horrific' number. Officers policing the roads in Essex have had to deliver the 'worst possible news' to 22 families already this year, as 22 people have died as a result of 16 collisions. This means there have been an average of more than five deaths per month in less than four months on the roads in Essex. On Saturday, April 12, officers from the Roads Policing Unit (RPU) who regularly patrol the county's highways were conducting speed checks on the A12. Across a 30-minute period, four vehicles were captured travelling at speeds of more than 100mph, with one vehicle clocking in at 123mph. Each offender will receive a court summons. Safe - Adam Pipe, head of the Roads Policing Unit, said he is appalled by the shocking number of deaths (Image: Essex Police) Adam Pipe, the head of roads policing in Essex Police, said: 'Officers policing our roads have had to deliver the worst possible news to 22 families already this year. 'This is a truly shocking number that I personally am appalled by. 'To then see drivers reaching speeds of more than 120mph on our roads, displaying such disregard for human life, is a slap in the face. 'We've seen a horrific number of serious collisions on our roads already this year. 'For me, one death is always one too many. 'Behind each statistic is a family, changed forever, and in some cases, this is down to the selfish actions or split-second mistakes of road users. 'This has also taken a huge toll on our officers, who are people too, and who have had to deliver some heartbreaking messages.' The RPU is taking part in Operation Limit, which sees traffic units deployed on targeted patrols in specific areas of the county. Also on Saturday, April 12, across a 10-hour period alone, this operation identified 139 offences and saw 14 arrests on the roads around the Chelmsford area, with 17 vehicles seized. Of the arrests, 11 were for drink or drug driving. One of the arrests, at Maldon Road, Hatfield Peverel, saw cocaine recovered from a Jaguar and a man arrested for a litany of offences. He was questioned on suspicion of drink and drug driving, driving without insurance or a full licence and possession of Class A drugs and released under investigation while inquiries continue. As part of Operation Tramline, officers use an HGV on loan from National Highways. The height of the cab allows officers to see into other lorry cabins or down into cars in a lower level to observe if drivers are on their phones. Under this operation, officers caught several drivers looking at their phones while behind the wheel on the roads of Essex. One woman did so while carrying five children in the vehicle. Ahead of the Easter weekend, Mr Pipe is urging drivers to recognise the dangers their reckless speed can pose to the public. He said: 'We're more proactive than ever in patrolling our roads and catching irresponsible drivers, but it does feel like we're fighting against the tide. 'There's only so much we can do, and we're out there policing the roads of Essex 24 hours a day. 'My personal plea is for the public, the majority of which I know are responsible drivers, to take care on our roads as you travel this Easter holiday. 'If you've had a drink, don't drive. Think before you travel, designate a driver. 'If you're late or in a rush, don't resort to speeding, it's not worth the devastating cost. 'That phone call or text message can always wait. 'Be aware of your surroundings, watch for motorcycles and cyclists, take an hour longer to plan your journey. 'These are the simple things you can do to help ensure we don't lose another life on our roads.'
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Warning to drivers after road deaths increase
A startling increase in fatal road collisions recorded in Essex has prompted police to issue a warning ahead of the Easter weekend. So far this year, there have been 22 road deaths in the county, compared with 12 during the same time period in 2024. Adam Pipe, the head of roads policing for Essex Police, said he had "never seen this level of trauma and death" in his 25 years at the force. He said there had been an enormous increase in drug driving offences recorded this year - with 375 arrests made up until the end of March. "Drug driving is an enormous problem for society and policing," he told BBC Essex. "I don't think people fully appreciate the legislation." The force was called to two fatal collisions on the A120 near Braintree on Wednesday. Four students died after their car collided with a building in Colchester on 1 February, and on the same day, a nine-year-old girl and her 16-year-old brother died after a crash in Basildon involving the e-scooter they were on. "There is no other part of public life where we would tolerate this level of death and injury." Essex Police wants to achieve zero road deaths over the course of a year by 2040. The force has signed up to a month-long campaign called Operation Spotlight, coordinated by the National Police Chiefs' Council. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Mother pays tribute to children killed in crash Inquest told of injuries to four students in crash Essex Police
