Police signal a warning to off-road bikers

Date published: 03 March 2010

Police are sending a stark warning to people who ride off-road bikes in public places as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Officers from the Whitefield Neighbourhood Policing Team have been putting up signs warning bikers their machines – which include mini-motos, scooters and quad bikes - will be seized and could be crushed if they are caught riding them on public open spaces such as parks and playing fields.

Signs have so far been put up at Thatch Leach Lane Park and similar signs are due to be put up at Boz Park and around the Victoria Lane Estate.

PC Danny McCondichie said: “Residents in the Besses area have raised the issues of anti-social behaviour as one of their main concerns and we have made it one of our top policing priorities.

“We want to make it crystal clear to owners of off-road bikes that we will not put up with their use in public places. It is illegal to drive them on any public road or public space and not only are they a nuisance, but they are also a real danger to both the public and the rider.”

When a bike is seized on public or private land, the owner can only have it returned after paying a recovery fee of £150 plus a storage fee of £10 per day. The bike can be destroyed or disposed of if not claimed from HM Recovery within a set amount of days.

However, if an off-road motorbike is seized for driving on a public road, then the vehicle will be destroyed immediately because it is not insured to drive on the road.

Funding for the signs came from the Whitefield and Unsworth Local Area Partnership (LAP).

Chair of Whitefield and Unsworth LAP Councillor Michelle Wiseman, said: "The LAP recognises that this is a big issue for local residents and the council and police are working together to tackle the problem. We want local people to feel safe and these new signs clearly inform the drivers of off road bikes that they will be seized if they drive them in public places.”

Residents can report off-road bikers using public spaces by calling the Whitefield NPT on 0161 856 8204 or by emailing whitefield.npt@gmp.police.uk.