Barnfield_Bikes

Residents deserve better from @medway_council. They are fed up with the lack of action to address the daily antisocial behaviour problem of motorbikes & quadbikes on Barnfield Recreation Ground. This is council land but they fail to tackle the problem. It is shameful.

That makes a total of 119 nuisance vehicles caught on camera so far this year riding illegally at Barnfield #nuisancevehicles #antisocialbehaviour #asb @KentPoliceMed @medway_council @MedwayLabour @MedwayCSP @MedwayTories @vincemaple @MrAWJLawrence2 @UKGeorgeP

Just a few of the 41 nuisance vehicles caught on camera at Barnfield Recreation Ground during February #nuisancevehicles #antisocialbehaviour #asb @KentPoliceMed @medway_council @MedwayLabour @MedwayCSP @MedwayTories @vincemaple @MrAWJLawrence2 @UKGeorgeP

This is positive to see but residents want to see more regular enforcement. One off operations like this are not as effective as ongoing enforcement and police attendance at Barnfield. @KentPoliceMed @medway_council

When will @KentPoliceMed start to proactively seize nuisance vehicles that rise daily at Barnfield? @PCCKent @KentPoliceRoads @KentPoliceRural

How are @medway_council going to protect the wildlife from the nuisance vehicles that illegally ride at Barnfield on a daily basis? @vincemaple @KentPoliceMed @MrAWJLawrence2 - perhaps it's time to enforce the PSPO or install proper fencing? @RobertBoddy

First (suspected) stolen motorbike joy ridden, dumped & set on fire at Barnfield. It looks to be a Triumph Bonneville #Barnfield #antisocialbehaviour #crime @KentPoliceMed @KentPoliceRoads @vincemaple @medway_council @TrisOsborneMP @MedwayLabour @MrAWJLawrence2 @UKGeorgeP

🧵 2 of 3 - A selection of the 78 motor vehicles caught on camera illegally riding at Barnfield in January. @medway_council @MedwayCSP @TrisOsborneMP @vincemaple @PCCKent @KentPoliceMed @KentPoliceRoads @UKGeorgeP @MrAWJLawrence2 #Barnfield #nuisancevehicles #antisocialbehaviour

🧵 1 of 3 - A selection of the 78 motor vehicles caught on camera illegally riding at Barnfield in January. This doesn't include the increasing number arriving at night between 7 & 10pm @medway_council @MedwayCSP @TrisOsborneMP @vincemaple @PCCKent @KentPoliceMed @KentPoliceRoads

Just in case @medway_council, @vincemaple, @EstherMCook, @TrisOsborneMP, @KentPoliceMed had forgotten the wording of the PSPO ⏬️ medway.gov.uk/downloads/file… Let's hope that 2026 is the year of actually enforcing it!

A sober reminder of the consequences of not enforcing a PSPO to tackle nuisance vehicles in Medway. @vincemaple @medway_council @MedwayCSP @KentPoliceRoads @KentPoliceMed @TrisOsborneMP @ShabanaMahmood @EstherMCook @PCCKent @MrAWJLawrence2 @KM_newsroom

@medway_council @KentPoliceRoads @KentPoliceMed @KM_newsroom @KM_Medway @vincemaple @EstherMCook @PCCKent @MrAWJLawrence2 @UKGeorgeP 🧵 3 of 3 - Or Merton officers who, in one month, seized 37 illegal or dangerous e-bikes and scooters & made 57 arrests as part of Operation Frostwatch. @KentPoliceMed @PCCKent @TrisOsborneMP - if other forces can be proactive, why is this not the case for Kent Police Medway?

🧵 2 of 3 - Devon & Cornwall Police who have seized & destroyed e-bikes as part of their on-going 'Operation Forerunner'. response to "significant concerns" from residents about the safety risks posed by the vehicles when modified or misused.

🧵 1 of 3 - Let's hope that @KentPoliceMed's New Year's Resolution for 2026 is to actively tackle the surge in nuisance vehicles across Medway. They could learn a lesson or two from other forces who seem to be doing a far better job. Examples include...

To our knowledge, only 1 vehicle (a moped) was seized by @KentPoliceMed at Barnfield (15/5/25) in the whole year of 2025. We were later informed by an officer that the vehicle recovered was found to have DNA evidence linking it to a hit & run incident in Strood.

During 2025, a whopping 1169 motor vehicles illegally visited Barnfield to ride. This is despite a PSPO in place. Proof that unless @KentPoliceMed & @medway_council actively enforce the PSPO, the numbers will continue to rise & users of the land will continue to be put at risk.

@medway_council @vincemaple @MedwayLabour @MrAWJLawrence2 @matthewinkent @MedwayCSP @KentPoliceMed @EstherMCook 🧵4of4 - This is the 3rd time this year that perimeter fencing, barriers or gates have been vandalised for vehicle access onto Barnfield. Also the 2nd time this year that 2x access points have been open for vehicle abuse at the same time. No wonder vehicle numbers are so high.

@medway_council @vincemaple @MedwayLabour @MrAWJLawrence2 @matthewinkent @MedwayCSP @KentPoliceMed 🧵3of4 - @medway_council – The 2nd gate vandalised at Barnfield last Friday afternoon. Located on footpath between Street End Rd & Magpie Hall Rd, near the basketball court on Barnfield Recreation Ground.

🧵1of4 - Earlier this year, @medway_council removed a heavy duty, undamaged chicane barrier from this location (footpath between Magpie Hall Rd & Street End Rd, next to Victory Academy) replacing it with a light duty gate. Last week, this, along with another, was vandalised.

The pro activity of this police force is exactly what is needed with @KentPoliceMed. @matthewinkent @TrisOsborneMP - when will our police officers be given the tools to seize nuisance vehicles. If other forces can do it, there’s no reason why ours can’t! @GabrielDMorris