PARENTS who buy mini motorbikes as gifts this Christmas could be putting their children at risk, police have warned.
While petrol-driven motorbikes and scooters are a popular item on many youngsters’ wish-lists, North Wales Police are urging parents to consider the problems they can pose.
Superintendent Simon Shaw, from the force’s roads policing unit, said: “I would urge parents not to buy mini motorbikes.
"They are dangerous as many fail to meet even the most basic safety regulations.
“They are a waste of money as it is illegal to ride them on roads or other public places.
“I would hate to think of any young person being seriously injured or even killed as a consequence of having had one of these for Christmas.”
As well as being potentially hazardous, police say mini motorbikes cannot be insured or ridden in public places and do not comply with European Union safety regulations.
Supt Shaw added: “In many circumstances the law provides us with the power to seize and subsequently destroy them.
“To minimise the chance of someone being killed or seriously injured we will use those powers whenever we can.”