East London News A Force for the community…
THERE’S BEEN an increase in dangerous driving over the lockdown period – speeding and other forms of putting pedestrians and other road users, and drivers themselves, at risk.
Now it seems that the reckless behaviour has extended to mopeds. At a hearing last month at Croydon Magistrates’ Court, Kyren Bryce, 23, and Hilsea Street, Hackney admitted dangerous driving. He was to return to court at a later date for sentencing.
The offence took place back in April. Metropolitan Police officers were patrolling in central London as part of Operation Venice, where a number of robberies had recently been carried out by a man on a grey moped. Late in the afternoon, the patrolling officers saw a grey moped travelling along Kings Road, SW3. The officers tried to stop the moped – which drove away. Police officers pursued the moped to Lambeth – sometimes reaching 70mph as it went through residential areas. The moped drove dangerously: going through red lights, over-taking vehicles in a reckless fashion, taking to the pavement on occasion and also riding through a park.
The police grew concerned about the danger the moped was posing to the public. A marked police car in Brixton Road, SW9, was authorised to use a slow speed tactical contact in an attempt to stop the moped. Police managed to stop Bryce and he was immediately arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and taken into custody.
Sergeant Tony McGovern, one of the Operation Venice officers involved in the pursuit, said, “The riding displayed showed a complete disregard for other members of the public’s safety and also fell far below the expected standards of a safe and competent driver. Bryce not only put his own life at risk, but also the lives of innocent members of the public for no reason.”
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