Off-road bike cops are getting into high gear to tackle rogue riders in Kirklees this summer, after seizing bikes in operations in the district.
Specialist Kirklees Police off-road bike officers are urging residents to keep reporting off-road bike-related anti-social behaviour, as they plan more patrols for warmer weather months as part of Operation Teakshot.
The team patrolled the Huddersfield area over the weekend, including in and around Dalton, following reports of people riding bikes and quads in an anti-social manner.
Police spoke with residents to gain intelligence and conducted sweeps in areas where persons involved had been seen dispersing too.
The operation resulted in two Stomp pit bikes being seized, including one from a rider who was tracked down and dealt with by police after trying to make off.
A quantity of suspected cannabis and drug paraphernalia were also recovered.
Operation Teakshot patrols are conducted in partnership with Safer Kirklees with finance provided by Home Office Safer Streets funding.
They see officers patrol on off-road bikes across hotspots known for off-road ASB as well as deploying in areas identified by residents as having ongoing issues.
Sergeant Shaun Oates of the Dewsbury Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Dangerous and anti-social off-road riding rightly causes real concern in communities. “None of us want to see it, and our off road patrols target those who somehow think it is acceptable to ride in a manner which puts themselves and others at risk.
“We regularly seize bikes on deployments, such as the two recovered in Huddersfield, and always urge residents who have information about persons involved or footage of such acts to contact us.
“Even if we don’t catch persons in the act we do follow up on such information and can use this intelligence to identify and then pay a visit to and prosecute those involved.”
He added: “I want to thank residents who have been reporting these incidents to us and ask them to keep up the good work.
“Please let your local neighbourhood policing team, know if you have issues in your community and would like us to add your area to our patrol plans.”
Information can be given by calling 101 or online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat. Information can also be given anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
