POLICE could fine youngsters who ride bikes in shopping centres and arcades in a bid to stamp out unruly behaviour.

Complaints about a group of youngsters, aged about 12 and 13, riding antisocially across the island are becoming increasingly regular.

On Saturday, up to 40 youths on bicycles disrupted traffic and allegedly damaged cars while riding recklessly around the island.

Dozens of people contacted police to complain about the youngsters, who were filmed blocking the road and making hand gestures to drivers.

Police have also received reports that children are riding into Knightswick Shopping Centre, in Furtherwick Road, and into the MovieStarr cinema and arcades on the seafront.

Insp Fergus Caulfield, from the Castle Point and Rochford community policing team, said: “There are children causing antisocial behaviour on the island in groups.

“They are going to be visited at home and we will take any proactive enforcement action that we can. However, not every kid on a bike is causing trouble. They are kids and we have to find that balance. Those who are disrupting businesses will not be tolerated.

“If we have to give out fixed penalty tickets then we will do it if that is the way parents will realise the harm their children are causing.”

Suzanne Gray, the owner of the Monico Dining Rooms, in Eastern Esplanade, said she had seen youths jumping in bins and causing a nuisance outside her business, but didn’t feel fines were always necessary.

She said: “They are just kids being kids and just need talking to with a bit of respect. I have approached them before, and because I recognise them and who their parents are, as soon as I say that I will be calling their parents, they stop. I have had two of them come and apologise.

“The kids are just misguided, they are just bored. You get the odd mouthy one. They are being boisterous and pushing the boundaries, but they aren’t bad kids.

“When they were jumping into the bins, they didn’t realise how dangerous it was and that they could cut their legs.”

Officers from the Castle Point and Rochford community policing team took to Facebook to warn parents about the dangers after several reports of dangerous riding on Saturday.

One video posted on Facebook showed a large group of youngsters cycling along Hawskbury Road. They refused to get out of the road even though they are riding on both sides of the road and blocking traffic.

At least one youth could be seen making rude gestures.