CANBERRA’S top road policing cop is “shocked” by a video of a person riding a trail bike and a child riding a quad bike, without a helmet, on Melba Oval. 

After viewing the footage, officer in charge of road policing, detective inspector Marcus Boorman says he’s shocked by the brazen nature of the incident.

The footage, taken at Melba Oval on Alfred Hill Drive at about 12.20pm, Saturday, June 13, shows a person riding a trail bike on the oval and adjacent parkland. It also appears to show a young child riding a quad bike unassisted and without a helmet.

“The people depicted in this vision might think that what they’re doing is merely harmless fun, but they’re actually breaking the law,” detective inspector Boorman says.

“Parents shouldn’t need to teach their kids to watch out for vehicles when they’re playing in a park or a green space, which are there to be enjoyed by the entire community, not to be turned into your own personal trail bike track.

“A trail bike can be ridden on public roads if it is properly registered and being operated by a licensed rider. All other riding of trail bikes and quad bikes on public land in the ACT is prohibited.

“ACT Policing is currently conducting specialised training on police trail bikes, which will enhance police capability to undertake patrols of parks and green spaces, and assist in apprehending offenders like this.”

Mr Boorman is asking Canberrans who are able to identify the people depicted in the vision, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000 or Crime Stoppers ACT website, quoting reference 6552963.