Staffordshire’s nuisance motorcyclists targeted in partnership operation

Nuisance motorcyclists across Staffordshire have been warned of the risks they face if they’re caught riding on the county’s green spaces

A joint partnership operation between Staffordshire Police and Stoke-on-Trent City Council is targeting the anti-social bikers in areas of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

During an operation on Sunday 9 May, the force’s Roads Policing Unit seized six bikes with an 18-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent arrested on suspicion of multiple driving offences. He has since been released under investigation pending further enquiries.

Two cars were also seized for no insurance.

The operation was carried out with support from the National Police Air Service.

PC Craig Beardsley from the Roads Policing Unit said: “We take reports of anti-social behaviour very seriously and nuisance bikers are a constant source of concern for our communities – with many causing significant damage to public green spaces. These riders are committing traffic offences as a result of the way they ride and often put others at risk in doing so.

“As a force, we work incredibly hard to tackle this issue on behalf of our local communities and an operation, carried out in March 2021, saw several vehicles seized and a number of arrests made. We will continue to work closely with our local partners and will do all we can to support Stoke-on-Trent City Council in looking for new ways to protect our communities from these nuisance bikers.”

Councillor Abi Brown, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: “This operation builds on excellent work that’s been done previously to tackle nuisance motorbiking. We want people to know that your vehicles will be seized if you cause anti-social behaviour in our city. We are very proud of our beautiful public green spaces and will not tolerate people who churn them up and create danger and disruption to our law abiding communities.

“We’re working together both preventatively and very firmly alongside Police colleagues to tackle the small minority of offenders who persistently cause problems. We take the issue of nuisance bikes very seriously and will not tolerate any people whose anti-social behaviour detrimentally impacts on our residents and the many beautiful green spaces in the city.”