Illegal scrambler use 'wreaking havoc in communities'

Police received almost 10,000 reports involving scramblers across Northern Ireland over the last six years.

The information was obtained by BBC News NI following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.

The deputy lord mayor for Belfast said scrambler use was "wreaking havoc" in residential areas.

Paul Doherty has submitted a motion to Belfast City Council for a dedicated scrambler programme and site to be established to address the issue.

Paul Doherty says dedicated programmes help "empower" young people

"I'm hearing about people riding on footpaths, it's a real issue and we need to see action. Residents are fearful hearing scramblers," Doherty said.

He added that this was a "city wide" problem and a solution was needed "to try to divert a lot of young people away from this criminality".

"As elected representatives we have been condemning illegal scrambling use for years - but words are not enough. It is now time for action," he said.

He added that dedicated programmes help "empower" young people.

"A lot of young people have aspirations and interests in motorcycling but there are no tracks for them," he said.

"I am very concerned, I live not far from Falls Park and I almost saw a mother and her children be wiped out by a scrambler."

What is illegal scrambler use?

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) previously said they wanted to remind scrambler bike owners that the majority were restricted to off-road use only.

However, the PSNI added that this does not mean they can be driven anywhere "off-road".

"These vehicles should only be driven on private land where the landowner has given permission and should not be driven on pavements, roads, public property or parks."

If used on the road the rider would require a driving licence from age 16, at least third party insurance for road use, a number plate, obligatory lamps, reflectors and rear markings fitted.

Constable Kingsberry says illegal scrambling is an issue the police receive multiple daily reports about in west Belfast

What are police doing?

Con William Kingsberry from the PSNI said he was supportive of the idea of a dedicated scrambler site.

"We know that children scrambling within a safe site works, they will go there and engage with instructors. We want everyone to be safe," he said.

"We are pushing this, from a policing perspective it makes sense, but we need everyone's support."

Colin Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) launched an initiative called Op CHICQUER following the death of Valerie Armstrong in 2016 after she was hit by a scrambler in Colin Glen Park.

Other ongoing issues around scrambling in the area have prompted community outrage.

Police said the initiative has yielded some positive results with a 29.8% reduction in scrambler-related incidents in Belfast from 2023/2024 to 2024/2025.

It was noted that around 70% of offenders were aged between 12 and 18 with a number of hotspots being identified.

Paul Doherty said illegal scrambling was a "city wide" issue

In an FoI request BBC News NI asked the PSNI how many incidents they had responded to regarding the "illegal use of scramblers".

They were not able to provide that information, but did say officers were assigned to investigate 9,949 reports mentioning "scrambler or scramblers" from January 2019 to March 31 2025.

Con Kingsberry said he dealt with "multiple daily reports".

"It is an issue far beyond west Belfast, there are a lot more communities across Northern Ireland that suffer the consequences of street scrambling," he added.

Con Kingsberry, who owned a scrambler when he was growing up, said he could see "both sides of the coin".

"Children want to play and they have the right to play but we don't want that right to infringe upon the safety of other people."

Martin Connolly, a community worker in the Galliagh area of Londonderry, told BBC Radio Foyle there were issues there with scramblers on a near nightly basis.

"We have had organised races in some of the open green areas, we have had an incident where one young lad came off one of those scramblers and was badly injured," the Derry community worker said.

"We can see this nearly every night now, three, four, five young people on these bikes – it is the illegal use of these and the danger to both the young people using them, and the ordinary residents and children who are on the streets at these times."

'Serious consequences'

Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey called on parents to "step up"

Paul Maskey MP called for "serious consequences" for people who buy young children scramblers.

"There have been people who have been very seriously injured or worse and I think that parents on many occasions have to step up to the mark," he said.

"If they are going to buy their child a scrambler type bike then they need to take them to somewhere very safe for those kids to use it because on the roads and public highways it certainly not safe."