Three police motorbikes worth £20,000 are rarely used to deter young motorcyclists from racing in New Addington, a councillor claimed.

The patrol bikes were supposed to prevent young motorcyclists from racing along Central Parade where 19-year-old Mark Gurney was killed in a bike crash two weeks ago.

However, ward councillor George Ayres said they were very rarely deployed in New Addington.

He said: “The impression I get from talking to the local safer neighbourhood team is that they have barely been used.

“They were used in New Addington twice last month for the first time in a long while.

“It has been a rare event and there appears to have been no schedule as to how they rolled out.”

The three cross-country motorbikes were bought by Croydon Council in 2007 to help catch criminals who tried to give them the slip by travelling off road.

The Suzuki DR 400 trail bikes were to be based at New Addington police station and available for all 25 of the boroughs safer neighbourhood teams (SNT).

The motorbike patrols were put in place to police people on mini motos, scooters and quad bikes.

Coun Ayres said nearby Bromley police have full-time motorbike patrols to combat the problem of unruly bikers in their area.

“The tragedy of the last couple of weeks highlights the importance of regular police work in this area - I cannot understand why Croydon gives it such a low priority.

“I am calling for a commitment that the units funded by the council will be on regular attendance in New Addington.

“We have been told it has been virtually impossible to get them up to New Addington but there will be more of them in the future.”

Sergeant Tim Bull from New Addington SNT, told the Croydon Guardian that after Mr Gurney was killed he had applied for more patrols and was waiting to hear whether or not they had been approved.

A police spokesman said: “The police patrol as often as they can, most days when trained officers are available.

“They do go up to New Addington but are not based there, It is done on an ad hoc basis. The SNT contacts the sergeant if they need patrols at any given time.

“They are patrolling the Sutton border around Imperial Way at the moment.”

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