Latest news with #criminalActivity
Irish Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Taoiseach demands review of e-scooter rules over use by children serving as drug mules for crime gangs
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said there must be a review of all regulations around e-scooters and scramblers because of their use by criminal organisations getting children to distribute drugs. Mr Martin made his remarks following concerns raised in the Dáil about people using scooters and bikes in 'muling' for the drugs trade and becoming involved in road incidents, often without being pursued or prosecuted. The Taoiseach said it is a 'very serious issue which demands a review of the entire regulatory framework governing scramblers and e-scooters'. Fianna Fáil Dublin Bay North TD Tom Brabazon had said e-bikes, e-scramblers, e-scooters and ordinary scramblers 'are the scourge of people's lives across the city'. READ MORE 'A lot of them are unfortunately being used in criminal enterprises and in particular for muling and carrying illicit produce for the drug trade,' he said. 'These bikes, scramblers and scooters, when used as part of a criminal enterprise, are usually operated by minors.' Despite being underage these 'minors' were 'acting in an adult way but are not facing the rigours of the criminal system', he said. 'On top of that, notwithstanding anything the Garda Commissioner might say, these drug mules are not being pursued and prosecuted when they are on those vehicles.' Mr Brabazon said the e-scooter and scrambler users often do not wear helmets and are instead 'ballied up', or wearing balaclavas. They are 'not carrying or using lights in the dark evenings, having removed the speed governors from their vehicles'. His party colleague Shane Moynihan also urged stronger action on enforcement. The Dublin Mid-West TD said that in the past two weeks in his constituency a 10-year-old boy was severely injured when an e-scooter in a cycle lane ran a red light and three weeks ago there was a fatality in the Citywest-Saggart area involving a scrambler bike. E-scooters in particular 'are a welcome addition to the active travel agenda' but he stressed that 'users of these e-scooters need to obey the rules of the road and have respect for other road users'. Mr Moynihan said 'we need to see a more consistent approach to enforcement in terms of seizing illegal scramblers but also encouraging their sensible use'. The Taoiseach said it was a very serious issue that some of these new vehicles are being used 'as part of criminal enterprises, particularly the utilisation of young minors in the distribution of drugs'. He said the entire regulatory framework for e-scooters and scramblers needed to be reviewed. [ How drug debts are used to control Irish communities: 'Men are forced to go to jail on someone's behalf' Opens in new window ] 'There are positives too, particularly for the elderly population in terms of people getting access to go up hills and so on,' he said. 'However, it merits a review because many negative aspects have happened as a result of their deployment.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Untaxed car clampdown sees 281 seized in a year
Nearly 300 cars and vans have been seized from a town's streets in the last year as part of an ongoing crackdown on untaxed and abandoned vehicles. According to Middlesbrough Council, some are linked to criminal activity and used as pool cars by groups of offenders in which to stash "money, drugs or illegal tobacco". Less than half of the 281 seized between 25 April 2024 and 25 March 2025 were reclaimed by their owners, with the remaining158 eventually crushed and scrapped. Councillor Janet Thompson said she hoped the co-ordinated swoop between Middlesbrough Council, Cleveland Police and the DVLA as "another great day's work". A car equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is used to patrol Middlesbrough looking for vehicles without valid documents. During one day alone, the computer detected 68 cars and vans without valid road tax within just a couple of hours, the council said. And, while that may genuinely be down to forgetfulness on behalf of the registered keeper, there is a more sinister side. "Quite often these cars are linked to organised criminality," said Dale Metcalfe from Middlesbrough Council. "It not uncommon, certainly in central Middlesbrough, for them to be used as pool cars for storing illegal substances such as drugs and sometimes even cash." Seized vehicles incur a £100 release fee, which increases to £200 if the owner does not come forward within 24 hours, as well as a daily storage charge of £21 per day. If the vehicle does not have a valid MOT, a surety fee of £160 is also charged, although the fee can be reclaimed if proof of vehicle tax is provided within 15 days. Owners of untaxed, and therefore uninsured, vehicles can also face possible prosecution, an unlimited fine, a potential driving ban, higher insurance premiums and penalty points on their licence. Thompson said she hoped getting tough would help combat the problem. "I get people telling me that cars like this are abandoned on their street all the time," she said. "They act as magnets for crime, anti-social behaviour and, given the state some of them are in, they can be quite dangerous too. "I certainly wouldn't like one outside my home." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Poachers will have vehicles crushed, police warn Council removes 'nuisance' vehicles from roadsides Middlesbrough Council
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Untaxed Middlesbrough car clampdown sees 281 seized in a year
Nearly 300 cars and vans have been seized from a town's streets in the last year as part of an ongoing crackdown on untaxed and abandoned to Middlesbrough Council, some are linked to criminal activity and used as pool cars by groups of offenders in which to stash "money, drugs or illegal tobacco".Less than half of the 281 seized between 25 April 2024 and 25 March 2025 were reclaimed by their owners, with the remaining158 eventually crushed and Janet Thompson said she hoped the co-ordinated swoop between Middlesbrough Council, Cleveland Police and the DVLA as "another great day's work". A car equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is used to patrol Middlesbrough looking for vehicles without valid one day alone, the computer detected 68 cars and vans without valid road tax within just a couple of hours, the council while that may genuinely be down to forgetfulness on behalf of the registered keeper, there is a more sinister side. "Quite often these cars are linked to organised criminality," said Dale Metcalfe from Middlesbrough Council. "It not uncommon, certainly in central Middlesbrough, for them to be used as pool cars for storing illegal substances such as drugs and sometimes even cash." Seized vehicles incur a £100 release fee, which increases to £200 if the owner does not come forward within 24 hours, as well as a daily storage charge of £21 per the vehicle does not have a valid MOT, a surety fee of £160 is also charged, although the fee can be reclaimed if proof of vehicle tax is provided within 15 of untaxed, and therefore uninsured, vehicles can also face possible prosecution, an unlimited fine, a potential driving ban, higher insurance premiums and penalty points on their licence. Thompson said she hoped getting tough would help combat the problem."I get people telling me that cars like this are abandoned on their street all the time," she said."They act as magnets for crime, anti-social behaviour and, given the state some of them are in, they can be quite dangerous too."I certainly wouldn't like one outside my home." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
