Police Scrambler Bike Operation
Officers across Merseyside will be putting
the brakes on the criminal and anti social use of scrambler
bikes in six-week summer crackdown across the county.
In the last year it has become increasingly
apparent that many of the riders of these bikes have
a complete disregard for decent, law-abiding members in
their communities. And with summer round the corner and the
arrival of light nights there is a likelihood that riders of these
bikes may be tempted to ride them more often, causing further
disruption and misery to our communities.
Operation Brookdale will centre on areas across
Merseyside where communities have suffered from the illegal and
anti social use of scrambler and quad bikes. Particular attention
will be paid to roads, parks and any land to which the public have
access and, identified by communities as hotspots for riders
involved in the illegal, or anti social use of
scramblers .
Neighbourhood officers in all of the Basic Command
Units (Liverpool North, Liverpool South, Wirral, Sefton, St Helens
and Knowsley) will be supported by officers from the specialist
Matrix team, Roads Policing Department, Vehicle Crime and the
mounted and dog sections.
During the operation the following activity will take
place:
-
High visibility police patrols, including officers on
scramblers and quad bikes, on roads, parkland and other
public spaces
-
Plain clothes patrols
-
the use of locally gathered intelligence to target
places where illegal bikers are known to ride
-
Enforcement of traffic law on the highway to restrict the
activities of legal riders on our roads
-
Education in the schools about the dangers of these bikes and
the laws surrounding their use
-
Visits to petrol stations by officers and PCSOs. There
are concerns that young people using these bikes
illegally are able to get petrol to use the bike,
and officers will be asking the petrol stations to
support police in not allowing anyone under 16 to buy
fuel
Chief Superintendent Rob Carden, Area Commander
of St Helens, said: "Merseyside Police will not tolerate the
illegal, or anti social use of scrambler, or quad
bikes.
"Some times the riders of these bikes don't understand the
consequences for local communities and the harm that the use of
these bikes can cause.
In September last year 15-year-old Liam Clark
was seriously injured when two off-road motorbikes collided at
the Dream sculpture in Sutton Manor. Liam has been in hospital
since the day of his accident and requires 24/7 care from specially
trained nurses as a result of the brain injuries he suffered during
the collision. His life and the lives of his mum, Nicola, and
younger brother Jamie, have altered considerably and they are
still coming to terms with the life-changing injuries that Liam
suffered.
In the wrong hands these bikes are potentially lethal and
people need to understand the legislation in relation to the legal
use of these bikes, and the potential consequences of driving these
bikes irresponsibly."
He continued: "Working together with local people and
partner agencies, we are determined to tackle riders who
are blighting our neighbourhoods. Our communities should be
reassured that Merseyside Police is working hard to take nuisance
vehicles and and the criminals who use them off our roads."
Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for
Regeneration, Housing, Planning and Community Safety said: "We are
sending a strong message out that anti social behaviour of any kind
will not be tolerated. It brings misery to communities and we will
strive to deal swiftly with such behaviour."
Key information to the Public
To ride a mechanically propelled vehicle such as
a scrambler/quad bike in a public place you are required to be
insured - if you are not insured the vehicle will be
seized.
Motorcycles/quad bikes regardless of size, powered by
an engine, or electric motor, can only be ridden legally on a road
or in a public place if the rider has a driver's licence,
insurance, MOT and vehicle excise licence, when required, and in a
public place where vehicles are allowed.
Parents who let their children ride their
scrambler/quad bike in a public place may also find themselves open
to prosecution.
Police will issue Section 59 warnings under the Police
Reform Act against both the rider and the machine that they are on
when a bike is stopped after being used in an anti-social
manner.
Persistent use of the bikes will result in seizure,
and possibly destruction of any bikes which cannot be proved to be
held legally.
General road traffic act legislation will also be used to report
for summons anyone committing offences on the roads.