Motorcycle Trackers Fitted – Maybe or Maybe Not?
The Police and Crime Commissioner has had a rethink on the controversial Motorcycle tracker idea
PCC (Police and Crime Commissioner) Kim McGuinness had a brilliant plan – as good as one of Baldrick's in fact! The information in the press release appeared to mean that it was being proposed that trackers, to log the speed and location should be fitted onto all motorcycles. The idea being that this would 'deter would-be criminals' However after investigation, it turns out that the press release in which this was announced was misleading and has been re-written as follows, now it appears to suggest it for all off-road machines
PCC Press release
Not surprisingly the motorcycling community spoke out, in considerable numbers, against the idea of having their every movement, speed and route tracked at all times. One of the joys of motorcycling is the peace and freedom of being out on the road unfettered and away from it all – not away from anything at all if your every movement is being continuously tracked. Luckily, to their credit, the PCC has taken the outcry from motorcyclists on board and is hopefully rethinking the idea in collaboration with motorcycle groups like MAG and the BMF.
Commenting on the original suggestion, Jim Freeman, Chairman of the BMF said:
"This proposal is as sinister as it is unfair, and the British Motorcyclists Federation objects strongly to it and the assumptions behind it. The mandatory use of a tracker is usually a sentence imposed by the courts after due process has been followed, but this would be tantamount to a collective punishment that sweeps hundreds of thousands of innocents up along with the tiny minority of the guilty without an investigation, trial or verdict. The vast majority of motorcyclists are responsible and law-abiding citizens from all walks of life who have done nothing to justify being treated like criminals and there are far better solutions to the genuine problem of anti-social behaviour than this. Also, the draconian precedent it sets would be horrifyingly Orwellian - should we start adding tracking devices to cars, bicycles and even shoes too, since a criminal might just as easily use them to travel to commit a crime?"
The PCC commented:
“These proposals caused concern to some law-abiding bikers and we’d like to make clear that we are now working with motorcycle groups to look at more acceptable proposals.
“The Commissioner is pleased that this has opened up a conversation with the relevant parties and is now looking forward to working with them in finding solutions to tackle bike-related ASB [anti-social behaviour] caused by a very small minority of bike users. Anyone with ideas and suggestions that will help cut this crime and keep people safe is encouraged to contact the office.”
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