CoP: Strong-arm tactics won’t solve bike trouble
An RCIPS officer tries to catch a biker
(CNS): The police commissioner has warned that strong-arm tactics and enforcement will not solve the growing problem on Grand Cayman of illegal and dangerous motorbike activity. Derek Byrne released a statement Thursday about the events of last Sunday and said that the goal to curb the problem was not just about the number of people arrested but about increasing the safety and reducing disruption on the roads by rogue riders. He said that not everyone who took part in the bike ride last Sunday rode dangerously or illegally, and not all bikes were unregistered or uninsured.
“While enforcement is imperative, the measure of the success of our efforts is not the number of arrests and prosecutions but the reduction and disruption of illegal activity and dangerous riding on the road,” the commissioner said.
In his statement, Byrne said that reducing dangerous driving by illegal bikers continues to be a priority for the RCIPS but he called on the wider community, and especially legal safe riders, to be part of the solution.
“What occurred last Sunday was a deplorable public spectacle by an exhibitionist rogue element within the larger law-abiding motorbiking community,” Byrne said. “These rogue bikers demonstrated that they have no regard for their safety or for the safety of anyone else. It has been established, however, that a whole range of people participated in the event, male and female, youths and adults, and not everyone rode dangerously or illegally, and not all bikes were unregistered or uninsured.”
Given what happened on Sunday, police took care to consider the risk of serious or even fatal injuries to the motorcyclists or innocent motorists or pedestrians, and as a result opted to try and disrupt the rogue riders rather than chasing them.
“The key outcome for the police and community is that there was no loss of life and no injuries. I accept that the RCIPS lost some ground on Sunday, but the community can be assured we are hard at work to tackle the problem,” he stated, adding that he has now established a task force, headed by DCP Kurt Walton, to find a long-term sustainable solution to the problem.
The new task force includes customs and immigration officers, officials from the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing (DVDL), importers and other civilian stakeholders, and was also reaching out to members of the motorbiking community who want a safe a legal way to ride. Byrne said it would examine how enforcement and legislation could be enhanced to help prosecute those who insist on riding illegally.
“An investigation team has been formed and is gathering evidence from Sunday’s event in order to identify and arrest perpetrators and seize bikes,” Byrne said, adding that CCTV and other footage is still being analyzed. “Masked riders menacing other road users and flouting road laws is totally unacceptable, and the lack of an established track on island is no excuse for such behaviour.”
Byrne warned the community, however, that there is no easy fix and Cayman is not alone in dealing with the road menace.
“Countries in Europe and elsewhere have also grappled with illegal motorbike activity, and dangerous pursuits and strong-arm tactics have been used with very mixed results,” he said. “Enforcement that occurs will be firm, but proportionate and balanced, and done with consideration for public safety.”
But he said that enforcement alone would not solve this problem. “The only resolution will come about through partnership with other agencies and the community at large,” he said.
Roadblock their next silly get together. Check every one of them for insurance and outstanding warrants or fines. Seize and crush he machines of those without insurance. Should remove 75% of them.
Tried that. They didnt even get half of the bikes the first time 🙂 Why dont you join the police force? Sounds like YOU (Anonymous) have all the right tactics to stop this.
The Keystone Cop actions were using anything but strong-armed tactics. What a joke! It was a complete circus, with the cops in the staring role of clowns.
Brudda try talk some sense nah! Bout tie thin steel cable….. kmt its a problem yes! but setting a silly trap no!!!
What? Speak English
Like if you’re just here for the comments.
Why is this still a topic bld
Who let you on their wifi fam?
One word response to this – ‘BOLLOCKS’
Best you can contribute?
8:44 Best you can contribute?
Building a motocross track would be a simple and effective way for a developer to make money, especially if subsidised by the government, and let the guys (and girls) ride in an appropriate place and just charge a day pass. The other option is planning this event with the riders, and having police actively blocking the streets. Yes there are riders out there who stunt on their bikes, but that’s no different from anywhere else. The reality is, Cayman has a ton unregistered, non street-legal bikes. What’s the point of registering them if police won’t do anything? Guys ride up and down sidewalks without helmets on here.
In short:
Build something
Plan something
Promote safety
Promote registering your bike via enforcement
You want it? You build it! You break the law. All law abiding persons want you in jail and off the streets. All your choices to make and take responsibility for. P.S. If your asking your government to build you something please try and take into consideration that everything they try to build ends up a financial disaster. Better to do it yourselves or ask Dart.
One compassionate and understanding Caymanian, Mark Wood, owner of the quarry in B.T. kindly allowed the bikers to use his quarry for riding. At least it got a large number of them off the road for a while. I salute him for what he did, very positive ACTION!
Seize the bikes and sel them abroad. Look the. All up. Problem solved.
………..and when one of these idiots ends up crashing their bike and getting injured or dies, everyone else is at fault and the family will not accept that they brought this upon themselves!!! Wake up people! if one of your relatives acts like a moron and endangering others (and themselves) you owe it to society to step up
I read on another news source that the RCIPS will be gearing up for a ride out event this Sunday! Why on earth would they let the lawbreakers know that they are coming? How arrogant can the RCIPS possibly be!
The RCIPS would like the bikers to stand down and avoid a confrontation.
Arrogant??? Did you mean ignorant?
LMAO the RCIPS doing a ride out event this Sunday?! They think this is the TV show COPS awa? LMAO….
“Bad boys,bad boys what you gonna do? what you gonna do when they come for you”?! I’ll tell ya what they gonna do..ride off in different directions with police in chase and the entire scene will be one huge dangerous/hilarious mess!
they must be stopped at all cost
Any positive ideas to contribute? ” At all cost.” Care to qualify that?
Again, Cayman the land of the Pirates, Law and Order is non-existent. Given the COP statement the bikers are now emboldened. I just drove down the bypass from West Bay to Cost u Less and was passed by a lone biker doing at least 100 mph. The don’t give a sh*t, they know the odds of being stopped are virtually nil. Congrats COP.
The Penal Code (2013 revision) defines a gathering of 12 or more people behaving unlawfully as an unlawful assembly, and anyone “terrorizing or endangering the public” as a rioter. The RCIPS have a written duty to issue a proclamation by loudspeaker to disperse, after which they are being paid to quell the lawless rebellion. It’s really concerning that our Police feel they have discretion to operate from a completely different and ineffectual play book, when there is no room for philosophical debate in the code. From the absence of the Traffic Unit to warehouses of unsolved crimes and botched evidence files. It’s time we had a Police Dept that sets to work everyday doing exactly what we are paying them to do, and at a productivity rate that justifies their continued employment.
Exactly. That would do society a big favor but keeping 50 or so of them off the streets and roads for the next 5 years.
What a clown show. Could anyone believe that this is actually happening? Cayman Islands being controlled on Sundays by Dirt Bike Gang! This just goes shows the results of MLAS hard work????? International Embarrassment…………AGAIN!
Police and the DPP report directly to the Governor not MLAs but you knew that already right?
Yeah, cause the real CLOWNS were the same ones doing all the promising to these same riders just to gain votes! They are the embarrassment to this country, seeing as the ONLY time you can hear from them is election time!
got old rope tied across the road would stop them all lol, Brac Style lol!
Honestly that is so terrible thing to say. These young people are trying to express themselves. There needs a place where they can release expression and skills which half of you complaining about. You are acting like you where never young. Get a life
No one in that group are responsible individuals, law abiding citizens, no respect for other road users. Responsible mature and sensible people do not participate with others that break the law, they are irresponsible, selfish bigoted enablers.
Use the strongest possible water cannon the fire department has and shoot them with it like the pest they are.
Along with yourself 🙂
Stop them. Seize their bikes and sell abroad to fund good causes. Jail every last one of them. Society wins.
Sure they should as you say. Then the same has to supply to all non motorbike users. All drunk drivers
Group lawlessness is a serious threat to the community and to good people. Be off with you and your inane attempts at deflection.
Ignoring the problem won’t solve it either.
I have repeatedly reported the guy who regularly rides and pulls wheelies on his unregistered dirt bike up and down my street, and repeatedly revs his bike loudly after dark (when my child is trying to sleep) and the police have taken no action whatsoever.
My options appear to be to learn to live with the nuisance or to take the law into my own hands.
run some 110lb test monel across the street… It slows down a lot of wahoo, I’m sure it will slow down the bikers too!
Some Quotes:
“The police commissioner has warned that strong-arm tactics and enforcement will not solve the growing problem.”
The police commissioner is wrong! If all the lawbreakers are locked up, they won’t be running around showing their arsses.
“While enforcement is imperative”…..
If enforcement is imperative, where is it?
“What occurred last Sunday was a deplorable public spectacle.”
Well……. I can’t disagree with that.
“An investigation team has been formed and is gathering evidence from Sunday’s event in order to identify and arrest perpetrators and seize bikes,”
But he said that enforcement alone would not solve this problem. I guess we are doomed.
So are we going to let the bikers take over the roads every Sunday? If strong arm tactics and enforcement will not solve the problem then it is time to call Mother in London to come in and fix the problem once and for all. It is our only hope if we are not going to start a slow descent into chaos on this island. This namby pandyism must stop.
Where is the political outrage?
They are probably the politicians kids on the dirt bikes! What a mess this place is!
Water cannon
Sure water cannon for drunk drivers aswell
Rubber bullets with ink dye!!
Yep totally agree and also drunk drivers
Wow. Any RCIPS staff (including Commissioner Byrne) that genuinely feel that enforcing the Penal Code or Traffic Law is too strong arm are in the wrong line of work. That is the job the public are paying them, and expecting them, to do. Explains a lot.
The Penal Code (2013 revision) defines a gathering of 12 or more people behaving unlawfully as an unlawful assembly, and anyone “terrorizing or endangering the public” as a rioter. The RCIPS have a written duty to issue a proclamation by loudspeaker to disperse, after which they are being paid to quell the lawless rebellion. It’s really concerning that our Police feel they have discretion to operate from a completely different and ineffectual play book, when there is no room for philosophical debate in the code. From the absence of the Traffic Unit to warehouses of unsolved crimes and botched evidence files. It’s time we had a Police Dept that sets to work everyday doing exactly what we are paying them to do, and at a productivity rate that justifies their continued employment.
With a decent riot charge and conspiracy charge you could look most of them up for 5-10 years. And society would be big the winner.
The prison is bursting at the seams. There is no where to house this scum, and that is why the police wont arrest them!
A minority are deportable. Dealing with them should be free and easy.
The Brac has space. Would help offset the cost to GC of funding the place.
Hard Labour and they can still live a home.
Oooh. That is a good idea.
When dealing with the youth and the psychology behind what they do, it takes more than iron-fist, strong-arm policing. If not understood, some youth could easily resent law enforcement from taking away what they see as their freedom of expression.
I think there needs to be a more concerted effort – not just force of authority.
Taking away their freedom means these miscreants would not be a problem for society. Taking away their chance to go on trips to the US because of conviction would be a great deterrent. Offering to hug them and understand their pain is a waste of time and money.
Bear in mind we are not speaking about a category A offence that warrants conviction. No crime against an individual has been committed. But yes … a strong deterrent is necessary?
Riot and conspiracy are both about as serious as it gets.
Thank you Unison. You are, so far, the first person to recognise that this is a broader problem than just one of enforcement. I commend the CP for speaking frankly, and I suspect he understands the bigger picture, but, posters are jumping all over him with simplemindedness. I have previously posted suggestions on this problem. Lets try again. Answer these questions (1) Can they get insurance, and at what cost? (2) When insurance is out of reach, what do they do? (3) What is the reaction of the average youngster to this frustration? Would you accept the possibility that there is not enough for youngsters to do on such a small island?
We need a concerted and collaborative approach to this problem. The Police, insurance companies, Ministry of Sports, The Cayman Islands Motorcycle Riders Association, and maybe others, need to put their creative minds to work to solve this multifaceted problem. Create a path of qualification and compliance towards insurance, including successful completion of a course run by C.I.M.R.A. Hopefully we could get the majority of them to be legally compliant. Of course, there are some who will want no part of this, so lock their asses up!
It is time enough now for us to think creatively as it is only getting bigger and becoming cult like, and that should be a warning sign to all! Commissioner Byrne, I suspect you do understand the broader picture, and I respectfully suggest that you be the catalyst to what I suggest, and take the point position on this issue. Others before you seemed to have their head(s) in the sand or somewhere else!
It is a problem that can be managed rather than bludgeoned!
I should have thought the key is to phase out certain types of motorbikes and vehicles by preventing their further importation. For example, how did an ATV get past Customs? Most of these problems could have been prevented by nipping them in the bud. I remember the controversy concerning the change in the law that allowed the importation of superbikes. Everyone predicted at the time that within 6 months someone would die as a result, which of course they did. Since then, at least 15 rice-rocket riders have been killed on the roads, along with one tourist and and his wife, who was terribly injured when a superbike smashed into the side of his car on the WB road, while attempting a wheelie.
We allow situations to build up to a crisis, such as the number of unregistered vehicles with their llegal accessories, then act surprised at the consequences. An urgent review of our laws should be one of the solutions pushed by David Byrne, who has inherited a unenviable and chaotic situation. A few of our myopic politicians over the years are as much to blame as anyone. A couple of years ago, NY made a spectacle of running a bulldozer over 100 illegal dirt bikes. I’m sure the Police would have a generous response were they to appeal for the loan of a bulldozer for the same purpose, or a steamroller perhaps. The feelings of the law-abiding public are running very high at the moment, and have been for a long time.
For starters, there should be an automatic ban on the importation and sale of street-slick tires and lightweight wheelie-bike components for dirt bikes and ATVs. They should also ban the “Calabash” Nazi-fashion helmets – same kind that left their buddy clinging for life on the road back in April. Immigration should ban the admission of the infamous gorilla stunt riders of social media from USA, Barbados, Jamaica, St Vincent etc.
Customs are a bunch of deadbeats. Child Please!
I believe the only real solution here is co-operation between the police and the Ride of the Century partakers. Agree to be escorted, no illegal bikes, no masked riders, no dangerous stunts, and maybe a middle ground can be reached.
Except then it wouldn’t be the ride of the century. The point is to get on bad.
No helmets? You used the name Charles Darwin for a reason I see lol
You are joking….. aren’t you Mr. Darwin?
While the display of these riders is deplorable on many levels, the use of anarchy & inflicting serious injury on them & their companions is far from the answer to get to a resolution that satisfies everyone. I hope you don’t have any pet animals in your house.
I’m sorry but I have really no concern for their safety as they surely don’t have any for mine or my family. I understand that we don’t want innocent people to get hurt in the process, but it is hard to understand that RCIP seems to have no idea who those riders are as there is enough detail all over social media. Surely there is enough video evidence in place now which warrants their arrest. I believe this is where the publics frustration stems from that the RCIP does not appear to REALLY try and put an end to this.
Also, I myself have seen people on licensed bikes filming those on unlicensed bikes doing their stunts, so why not go after those licensed bike riders for assisting with illegal behavior? Surely they now who the idiot “stunt” riders are………..But those bikes know that police presence on our roads is seriously lacking – hence they feel secure that they are not likely being caught.
Finally – if cocaine and wee is destroyed once it has been confiscated, why does this not apply to those bikes? We yet have to get an answer what really happened when all those confiscated bikes were stolen from the compound.
Please get some mental help. You need it. I hope your kids (God-forbid you have any) actually pick up a bike so you can eat these words.
So what happens when my innocent child is crossing the street and gets run over by this out of control motor bike gang?
I say we set traps for this outlaw scum all over the place!
A baton across the right hand knuckles should solve the problem. If you can’t use the throttle can’t go anywhere.
Strike While the Iron is Hot!
(But not in the manner many are calling for.)
In my humble opinion, a bit of counter-impulsive action is what is needed at this moment.
The police should consider opening up a dialogue with the many legal and well-intentioned members of the riding community and TOGETHER organise ANOTHER cross-island ride ASAP.
Only this time, let both sides – as well as the general public – be fully aware of the plans.
The police could even provide an official escort (front and rear) of the ride-out for its duration.
The current tensions has the potential to boil over and unfortunately, if this occurs, we all lose.
As with every male-dominated group activity, we find many younger hot-heads and rogue outliers. However, we also have an abundance of older, mature, and respected members who have the ability to reign in the aforementioned, get everyone onboard, and calm the tensions.
(Hint: If any RCIPS are reading and interested in this approach, you may want to start with the owner of the blue “Trike”.)
After all, an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind – in this case, the rhetoric is gearing up to leave many members of the public injured and limbless.
Here’s to better relationships amongst all concerned parties.
– Whodatis
Is the blue trike licensed for road use?
No clue, but I wouldn’t ride around Cayman illegally on a bright blue trike.
– Who
As it doesn’t have lights I doubt it. Good question as to why it wasn’t confiscated at the roadblock.
If tensions boil over and a good few of them end up in jail then we don’t “all” lose. In fact the good, law-abiding people win by being in a community free from these lowlifes while they rot in prison for a bit.
Ok. To each his own.
– Who
Nails????
Nails????
They work well on cars too. Smh
Street justice eh, seems like a good way to injure the law abiding bikers too. Will it still be fun then?
The “wider community” needs to resolve this as we’re busy policing handicapped spots.
Weak. Sad times for cayman ahead.
Strong arm will work. Confiscating vehicles and a criminal recording stopping these scumbags getting to the US would be a deterrent. I would have said that a criminal record would hinder employment or further education prospects, but let’s face it, for the people concerned those are going to be motivations compared to playing in Tampa or Miami.
It’s blatant criminal activity. They deliberately set out to challenge the police and disrupt and endanger ordinary people. I think strong-arm tactics sounds ideal- I think they have not been strong enough. In fact if the RCIPS opened fire on these idiots it might solve a lot of the Island’s problems!
I guess drunk drivers and non insurance holders don’t challenge the police enough
Please justify your rational comment?
You cant say a partilcular solution wont solve the problem when you havent really tried that particular solution. Restorative justice wins the day and petty crimes continue on the rise. I miss the old days when cops were people to be feared and respected. Now they are just played with and laughed at to the benefit of punks. Bring back Dirty Harry, I can live with a little dirt from a cop if he applies his trade against criminals.
Byrne is right that it’s not the number of arrests and prosecutions that measure success. It’s the number of CONVICTIONS. What is that number? Last I heard it was either zero or one. Catch and release is for fishing, not crime fighting.
Really you expect the 2 or 3 cops shown in parts of the video to start hitting riders off their bikes, in a situation where they are clearly outnumbered and surrounded somehow you think the smart idea would be to escalate the situation to physical violence
Thank god an Expat is the Commissioner, cause some Caymanians don’t have any sense ( all that inbreeding maybe?)
The police did what they could in this situation, they should have set up a proper roadblock using multiple cars to block the entire road and adjacent offroad areas to prevent them from passing and then brought in trucks from behind to box in the bikes and prevent them from just turning around or finding another road. Evidently they were caught off-guard and didn’t have the resources in place to deal with this situation, No idea how this whole roadblock thing was organized but it seems like they need some training at how to handle these types of situations, send groups of them to the UK for 12-18 months because clearly they are not ready for any demonstrations.
If anything ever happens and there is a large gathering or display of unrest the enforcement arms of the government would be hard pressed to respond.
The DPP could have easily charged all of them with Unlawful assembly which carries a maximum sentence of 3 years (although it’s not like they have the resources or area to imprison dozens of new prisoners also I don’t think they should they should be imprisoned for any significant length of time anyway)
Long story short there are multiple avenues to deal with this issue and the issue for me isn’t so much that the police didn’t act properly but that they displayed their incompetence in public so much so that Cayman 27 is reporting that there could be a second such display in the coming weeks
Surely the Commissioner wouldn’t allow his officers to fumble this publicly as well?
I realize that not all riders last weekend were riding dangerously or illegally, unregistered and uninsured. However, did any of these “law abiding” riders respect the police blockade and stop?
The police need to do a much better job of patrolling the roads especially on Sunday. Many years ago the road from East End to George Town was abused in exactly the same way by race car drivers. I often drove that route on a Sunday afternoon and when the race track closed for the day, the cars would fly by in a convoy.
Even if these motorcycle riders find a place to ride, they will still have to get from their home to the track so they will still be on the road popping wheelies and riding dangerously.
Until this task force comes up with a solution, the RCIPS need to provide more patrols, island wide.
Ummm, er… it’s Derek Byrne, though I know CNS still misses the old guy…
CNS: Oops! Thanks!
When someone gets killed with the wire trick – which could definitely happen depending on how fast they are traveling – will you be at the forefront of those whining that the cops killed one of Cayman’s precious youth and filing a lawsuit against the CIG? If not, then thumbs up, as long as you are not a hypocrite.
Brudda try talk some sense nah! Bout tie thin steel cable….. kmt its a problem yes! but setting a silly trap no!!!
“While enforcement is imperative, the measure of the success of our efforts is not the number of arrests and prosecutions but the reduction and disruption of illegal activity and dangerous riding on the road,”
What does this mean exactly?
And how are you going to get to reducing and disrupting illegal activity? By enforcing the law, no? A bit of a circular statement by the COP.
We are here today BECAUSE of lack of enforcement over the past decade. Keep up enforcement 24 hrs, 7 days, all year long and you will have reduced criminal activities on the roads. There is no other magic formula. I haven’t seen a speed trap in weeks. Bikes, cars, trucks, they are all the same. They need to be roadworthy, and legally licensed. Start there.
If you saw the video, those were hardly strong arm tactics.
My lord,why do you feel this way?
Do you know what yours will turn out to be tomorrow?
They way be wrong yes,but you’re speaking of taking their lives.l heaven help us
Unless they are assisting in the investigation, those who may have been legally compliant on the day are complicit and must be locked up with the rest of the thugs.
Byrne. I have lost all respect. We were a law abiding community only 20 years ago. 20 years of soft arm tactics have brought us to where we are. The police are now next to complicit in the deterioration of our society. You had more than 100 punks in broad daylight run a police roadblock in broad daylight with hours to prepare and a helicopter to watch them with, any you have one arrest and compare a tiny Island with more police per capital than anywhere else to Europe?