The community of Darlington in County Durham has rallied behind its MP's call for a crackdown on gangs of youths who are terrorising neighbourhoods while wearing balaclavas and riding modified electric bikes.
MP Demands Immediate Action with Proposed Public Space Ban
Labour MP for Darlington, Lola McEvoy, last week demanded an immediate clampdown, urging the local authority to implement a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). This would allow for £100 fines for anyone wearing a balaclava or face covering to harass or intimidate others. Coverings worn for religious reasons would be exempt.
Ms McEvoy sparked the debate, stating: "So many residents have brought this up with me... they are using balaclavas to hide from the police and it's intimidating, people don't want to go to the park with their kids." She revealed that police recorded 100 incidents last year in the town centre alone where balaclavas were mentioned, with 800 cases of antisocial behaviour in Darlington between July and October this year.
A Community Living in Fear of the 'Balaclava Club'
Residents of Darlington and surrounding towns are plagued by groups, some as young as 12, on off-road and electric bikes. The issue is so prevalent that traffic officers from the Durham Roads and Armed Policing unit (DRAP) have coined the term the 'Balaclava Club'.
Alison Brydon, 61, said: "I agree with her completely, I don't like the town any more after living here for 40 years... Nothing seems to stop them, they're not scared of authority." She supported the fine idea but expected parents would end up paying.
Politics student Jessica Morgan, 20, from the Branksome area, described the danger: "It's really dangerous, not just for people on foot... They ride around on these bikes wearing nothing but a balaclava to protect them and when you come across them in a car you can sometimes barely see them."
Modified 'Souped-Up' Bikes Creating a More Dangerous Menace
Graeme Huston, 59, manager of the Wheelbase bike shop in Darlington, issued a stark warning about the modification of standard electric bikes. "Electric bikes are quite powerful machines but they're restricted to a top speed of about 15 and a half miles per hour," he explained. "But we're aware that these bikes are being derestricted using kits that can easily be bought online... if you have a bike that's capable of doing perhaps 25 to 30mph you suddenly have a much more dangerous situation."
Resident Jim Cunningham, 64, added: "Wearing balaclavas not only gives them anonymity, they also give them bravado. You will invariably see these young men zigzagging in and out of traffic on these electric bikes, it's incredibly dangerous."
Police Pursuits and a National Crackdown Trend
In regular social media updates, the DRAP unit details its encounters. In one recent incident, a balaclava-clad rider on a disused rail track in Willington failed to stop, leading to a pursuit. The rider eventually fell and was apprehended. In another, a suspected stolen moped with two masked teens was stopped after a 15-minute pursuit using a Stinger device.
Inspector David Littlefair from Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team confirmed they are in early discussions with the council. "We have received complaints from residents who say they feel intimidated... Everyone has a right to feel safe where they live," he stated. The move follows similar actions by councils in Surrey, Essex and the West Midlands as part of a wider balaclava crackdown across the country.
Darlington Borough Council confirmed it is working with police to address the community's concerns, as local support for the MP's tough stance continues to grow.
