Police in Fife fear someone will be killed unless the menace of illegal motorbikes is addressed.
Two teenagers were recently treated in hospital after falling from an off-road bike in Levenmouth and in Kirkcaldy a man was charged after a child was struck and injured by an unlicensed motorcycle.
Levenmouth chief inspector Adrian Annandale said there had been other instances of pedestrians being hit by youths riding illegal bikes in Fife.
Officers are now using covert tactics, including CCTV and plain-clothes patrols, in a bid to catch those responsible. They are also working with garages to identify who is buying fuel and when.
Illegal bikers are blighting communities across the kingdom but are a particular problem in Levenmouth.
Mr Annandale voiced his fears as he revealed police have been contacted by a farmer about the issue.
The East Wemyss landowner called in police to complain his land was being ruined by bikers and he is now working with officers to find a solution.
“We recently held a meeting with a farmer in East Wemyss who is equally as frustrated as everyone else about this,” Mr Annandale said.
“It was a constructive meeting. We know the frustrations and we are trying to work together with that particular landowner to try to address the problem.”
Other grassed areas across Levenmouth are often scenes of havoc, as youths on unlicensed bikes tear across them.
Councillors have identified Poplar Road and Kirkland Walk in Methil and the Wemyss Estate as particular hotspots.
The issue was raised in the Scottish Parliament by MSP Claire Baker, in the hope a solution could be suggested. In the meantime, police say they will continue gathering intelligence to identify those involved.
Mr Annandale said: “Recently, in Levenmouth, we had an incident where two youths engaged in this type of activity fell from a motorcycle and had to be treated in hospital for injuries. That incident could easily have been a lot worse.
“The last thing we want is any member of the public being a victim of this type of criminality. Whilst some may describe this as low-level crime, the potential is there for a fatality.
“Where there is risk and threat, the police at Levenmouth will act promptly.”
Mr Annandale told councillors that the motorbikes involved were in a poor state of repair, dangerous and noisy.
“The riders and pillion passengers normally wear no protective headwear, are not insured and drive the motorcycles on footpaths, public roads and open-space walkways,” he said.
“The problem is exacerbated as the riders do not have the appropriate licence and have little or no experience of driving high-powered motorcycles.
“This sequence of events increases the likelihood that either the rider, passenger or pedestrians may be injured or killed.”
The chief inspector admitted, however, that the problem was a difficult one to tackle.
“Often, the identity of the rider is not known or cannot be identified due to clothing worn, headwear or speed of the cycle.”
Riders are able to escape over rough ground, where they cannot be followed by police.
Levenmouth councillor David Graham has been inundated with complaints about bikers. “I’m continuing to get reports from local people that they are haring up and down Kirkland Walk, for example,” he said.
“There’s a perception that nothing is being done so it is good to see that it is being dealt with.”