Nuisance bikes taken off streets

Off-road bikes are being seized by officers as we continue to crackdown on anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Stoke-on-Trent.

We are working with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to target riders who damage public green spaces and put the public at risk through vehicle-related ASB.

At 9.45pm, on Tuesday (20 February), officers seized a stolen bike in Burslem Cemetery. The vehicle is believed to have been involved in previous incidents of ASB in the area.

Two teenage boys have since been referred to Youth Offending Services.

PC Nick Davies, from the Stoke North local policing team (LPT), said: “We take reports of anti-social behaviour very seriously and nuisance bikers are a constant source of concern for our communities.

“We are keen to hear from anybody who has information on these nuisance bikes, which are often stolen. This kind of behaviour is not acceptable and action will be taken against those involved.”

Operation Transom was launched last year to provide a partnership approach to tackling the use of off-road motorbikes.

We have been working with the local authority to target riders who damage public green spaces and put the public at risk through their illegal use.

Part of this work has seen increased patrols around hotspot areas and seizing bikes that are used to commit ASB in the area.

Councillor David Williams, cabinet member for community safety and resilience at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Nuisance bikes cause misery for residents across many areas of our city. This kind of behaviour is simply unacceptable, and it will not be tolerated.

“As a council, we have worked closely with Staffordshire Police to put in place measures that enable them to seize vehicles that are being driven in a way that causes, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress or annoyance.

“Our anti-social behaviour team will continue to gather evidence around nuisance bikes and the police have assured me that they will continue to take action when individuals are identified."

To report nuisance bikes in your area, email the council at [email protected] or call 01782 233400.

You can also report incidents to us through Live Chat here on our website, or by calling 101.