Time is running out for illegal riders who cause anger and frustration among law-abiding motorists in Huddersfield and across Kirklees.
That is the stark message from West Yorkshire Police chiefs who have set up a new bike unit to take nuisance bikers off the road ‘for good’.
The new specialist police bike unit dedicated to tackling nuisance bikers and hunting them down in the streets and fields of Kirklees. It follows numerous complaints by the public in Huddersfield of ‘moron bikers’ pulling dangerous stunts, riding without helmets and with no registration plates, and generally causing mayhem on the streets. The machines have included quads, off-road motorbikes and powerful e-bikes.
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Members of the public have previously described the bikers as intimidating, aggressive and very dangerous. Riders have been spotted all over Huddersfield, from Leeds Road and Ainley Top, to Newsome and Lindley.
Kirklees Nuisance Anti-Social Behaviour Team has already begun seizing machines and responding to calls.
The six strong team is the first dedicated unit of its kind ever seen in Kirklees to combat illegal riders and wants to hear from residents who have issues in their communities.
The team is promising “a new intensity and focus on illegal off road riders.”
Specific days of action with neighbourhood policing teams and the force’s Roads Policing Unit are already being planned.
The team is also reviewing submitted footage of a number off road bike incidents and working to identify suspects for police attention.
In its first few days of June, the team seized six bikes for offending, and issued four section 59 warnings which notify riders their vehicles may be seized if they are seen being used anti socially.
Sergeant Shaun Oates who leads the new team, said: “While we have had used off road bike patrols for several years in the District, those officers have also had other duties and never been full time in the role.
(Image: Yorkshire Live)
“The Nuisance ASB Team is the first dedicated unit of its kind we’ve had in Kirklees and allows us to operate with a new intensity and focus to invest time in communities which are having issues with off road riding.
“We will be operating with police bikes, a police car and more tools than we’ve ever had before to both stop illegal bikes, when appropriate, and hunt down their owners.”
Chief Inspector Rebecca Calpin of Kirklees Police, said: “We have been working for a long time to build up this new team which is a brilliant new asset which we know communities will really welcome.
“Anti-social and illegal riding is not tolerated in our communities and never has been. While we regularly have been prosecuting dangerous, riders having a dedicated unit only enhances our capabilities.”
She added: “I want to thank those residents who do submit information and footage of illegal riding and urge them to please continue doing so.
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“Summer unfortunately, can see an increase in this offending and we want to make use of good intelligence to helps us better deploy our team where they are needed.
“That same footage and intelligence is also equally important in helping us track down suspects who may have fled.
“We do and will continue to follow up every call we receive about illegal riding with efforts made to identify suspects via submitted footage, eye witness reports and checks with partners.
“We currently already also conduct CCTV enquiries in areas where we have incidents and check footage from garages to help us ID illegal riders.
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