Three arrested in illegal off-road bike crackdown

Adam Laver
BBC News, Yorkshire
South Yorkshire Police Illegal off-road bike in front of police carSouth Yorkshire Police
Bikes were seized in a "day of action" in Doncaster, police said

Three people have been arrested as part of a crackdown on illegal off-road bikes in Doncaster.

Police said the arrests were made when Doncaster's neighbourhood policing team joined up with the force's motorcycle and rural crime team to patrol a quarry off Lound Lane in Brodsworth which had become a "hotspot" for off-road bikes.

Four bikes were spotted and, following a short pursuit, one driver was detained and reported on summons for driving offences, with his bike also seized for having no insurance.

Another stop saw two occupants of a vehicle searched and subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of offensive weapons, police said.

The "day of action" also saw three vehicles recovered, with one involving a driver who had no insurance and two involving vehicles being driven with false or cloned plates, a force spokesperson said.

'Anti-social behaviour'

Sgt Kelly Ward said: "We know how much of a nuisance off-road bikes are in our local communities and we recognise people's frustrations towards them.

"Every piece of information we gather on off-road bikes is used to shape our local intelligence picture and helps us to locate the vehicles involved and seize them.

"We use that intelligence to shape our policing activities every day and these days of action involving the motorcycle and rural crime team allow us to adopt a high visibility approach and better monitor off-road locations where we know off-road bikes to be more prevalent."

Sgt Ward added that members of the public could help police by providing specific times, dates and locations of where off-road bikes and illegal e-scooters were being ridden.

They should also provide descriptions of the riders, including details of their clothing and helmets, as well as the bikes themselves, including make, colour and size.

Sgt Ward added: "We need your help to continue to crack down on off-road bikes as your intelligence really does aid us in stopping this particular type of anti-social behaviour."

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