The deafening noise of around 200 high performance motorbikes, mopeds and quadbikes was unmissable in south east London as a gang of bikers, some wearing helmets, others with painted faces and wearing balaclavas, rode through the city mounting sidewalks and forcing pedestrians to cower in street corners for cover.
The scenes were described by witnesses as being like something between action movie Mad Max and a Grand Theft Auto-style ride. Families in south London said it was "havoc" as they were forced to dive for cover as the convoy of bikes mounted sidewalks and set off fireworks.
Heck of a racket of revving engines from somewhere north of here.
— Robert Doyle (@RJDoyleSW2) October 30, 2016
Hoping that Halloween Rideout motorbike gang f#ckwits haven't come to SW2
It appears that the gang started their journey in Blackheath, south east London and congregated on London's famous Oxford Street.
At least 500+ motorbikes just roared through Blackheath taking up whole road and pavement. What's that all about?
— Adam Milford (@adampmilford) October 30, 2016
Lawless motorbike gangs are fast becoming persistent plague-ridden vehicles without fitted silencers, terrorizing people in their masks and without helmets up and down residential streets.
The majority of bikes don't have registration plates, so they are unidentifiable to the authorities and without a helmet on, the bikers pose too greater a risk for the police to chase them, in case the riders falls off and is injured.
@ukhomeoffice Well done! Your plans to run the police into the ground are complete! Hundreds Mad Max style on the streets Halloween Rideout
— Response Plod (@ResponsePlod) November 2, 2015
Organizers of the so-called "Halloween Rideout" had been arranged on social media by group UK Raise It UP, who claim it was a protest against a lack of legal space available for stunt riders.
"We still have nowhere to ride. What else can you expect [?] There is not one place we can ride or stunt legally."
A spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police said:
"Police are aware of a ride-out event involving groups of motorcycles and quad bikes takes place across London during the Halloween period. On Sunday, 30 October we received reports of a number of these riders engaging in anti-social behavior."
The Met defended any inaction towards the lawless gang, adding: "There is a policing plan in place with additional officers in place across a number of boroughs to tackle any offenses or associated crime.
"Police will take action against anyone found to be committing dangerous or careless riding, road traffic, anti-social and public order offenses."
