Youngsters in Carnoustie are continuing to risk life and limb by riding “kamikaze” bikes with no brakes.
Police have been confiscating the worst of the machines from school bike racks since the problem was highlighted last year.
Constable Mark Callison told members of Carnoustie and District Crime Prevention Panel that strong action is being taken to tackle the problem.
Letters have been sent to parents highlighting the dangers, the community safety issue and what the law requires.
If there is a second offence, police will confiscate the bike, charge the rider, and details will be sent to the Children’s Reporter.
The legal requirement for all bicycles, including BMX, when cycling on public roads is two functioning brakes. It appears that the young cyclists must have stripped the brakes from their bikes without their parents’ knowledge, because when contacted they had no idea they had been removed.
Police have visited the bike racks at Carnoustie High School several times. Staff have also been involved, asking parents to collect defective bikes.
Panel member Kay Landsburgh said: “Members of Carnoustie and District Crime Prevention Panel have been shocked to learn that, despite sterling efforts by our local police and high school staff, several young BMX bikers are still putting their lives at risk by riding without brakes down Carnoustie’s steepest streets.
“Things are really no better down here. If the parents could see how these lads hurtle down West Path or Queen Street, putting a foot behind them to slow down the back wheel, they would surely be horrified.
“All very well performing these stunts on a BMX track, but this is when the roads are full of parents’ cars and pupils walking to or from the High School.
“I don’t suppose many folk nowadays know what kamikaze pilots were, but they never returned from their missions.”
Kay added: “The local bobbies and the road traffic cars had a purge on the problem earlier this year, but the problem returned as soon as the initiative finished.”
Kay was keen to stress that the panel is not targeting youngsters unfairly but feels it must highlight the danger before someone is seriously injured.