BMF fight bike show cancellations
Added on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | One Comment
At least ten bike shows have been cancelled this summer following police and council objections.
The British Motorcyclists Federation has called on Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to investigate into the recent spate of bike show cancellations, claiming that local police forces are discriminating against bikers.
The BMF have written to the Home Secretary, the Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy MP and the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Ken Jones QPM to raise their concerns over what they claim are “totally unjustified and discriminatory” actions from local police forces, resulting in the cancellation of many popular events.
The BMF is also seeking a meeting with the Home Office to address these concerns and prevent further cancellations in the future.
Several high-profile events have been called off this summer, including the Welsh National Motorcycle Show, the Isle of Anglesey Motorcycle Show, the Great Yorkshire Bike show and Rock and Blues, all on the back of police objections.
Local constabularies have cited concerns over potential gang violence, despite providing no evidence to organisers and the events having no previous history of public disorder or violence.
In the letter, the BMF points out that fair and reasonably minded motorcyclists are incensed that their events are being cancelled, while many music festivals and football matches that have an established pattern of drugs or violence, are allowed to go ahead.
BMF Chairman Anna Zee, said: “It is extraordinary that the authorities seem to assume that a motorcycle gathering must mean trouble.
“The BMF runs some very large shows, with attendances of up to 85,000 with never a hint of trouble. Nor are we aware of any previous history of problems at the events cancelled this year.
“With so many cancellations, and the reasons for them being shrouded in mystery, we feel that motorcyclists are suffering completely unjustified discrimination.”
In a statement, the BMF acknowledged that police sometimes have to advise against running events for reasons of public safety, but suggested that prejudice against motorcyclists and not evidence, is informing these recent decisions.
Events cancelled in 2008.
- Driffield Bike Day and DABS Rally, Yorkshire (23 - 25 May)
- The Welsh National Motorcycle Show 23 - 26 May
- Past it MCC 13th Birthday Party 31st May
- Stourbridge MCC’s Midsummer Bash 21st June
- Rock and Blues 24th - 27th July
- Stourbridge MCC’s Woizel Rally 8th 9th 10th August
- Great Yorkshire Bike Show 15th-16th August
- Past It MCC’s 10th Zimmer Frame Rally 22nd - 24th August
- Patriot Games Rock Festival, Monmouth 22nd - 24th August
- Isle of Anglesey Motorcycle Show 22nd -25th August
Loading ...
One Comment
John Cawkwell
May 6th, 2009We travel and enjoy as many biker meets as we can and have yet to encounter trouble of any sort,we are there to meet people no to fight them.
We also find none bikers love to see all types of machines on show, and thats what all bikers want, meet greet and enjoy ourselves.
So we should support all the people and club organisors for jobs well done past and present.