New off-road cop squad boasts enduro champ in the team!
New police off-road squad includes title-winning enduro rider
‘I knew that this would be the perfect role’ PC ELLIE COOKE
Bike criminals in North Yorkshire who think heading away from the tarmac will help them evade the police are in for a shock as there’s a new off-road team on the block, and they’ve got a multiple enduro and sprint champion among their ranks. Like many areas across the UK, North Yorkshire has seen a rise in reports of anti-social behaviour and crime associated with bikes. This year the force received more than 100 calls about incidents linked to off-road bikes between April and July alone and say that it affects both rural and urban communities as well as fragile local wildlife.
To fight back, the new team of four officers will ride Honda CRF250L motorbikes and will look to engage with off-road bikers to educate where they can and enforce the law when required. They can also use their specialist skills to access hard-to-reach areas, search for missing people, tackle rural and wildlife crime, deter crossborder criminality, and support community events.
The team includes PC Ellie Cooke who – as well as being a police officer – was the 2019 British Ladies Enduro Champion, and the British Ladies Sprint Champion in 2019 and 2020. “When I heard about the offroad motorcycle team, I knew that this would be the perfect role me, as I could transfer my off-road riding skills into work,” she said. “I knew from a young age I wanted to be a police officer, and there is nothing better than being able to do the job I love while riding a motorbike! I am looking forward to my new role in the team, and I am excited to see what we can achieve together.”
Inspector Kevin Kelly, who developed and implemented the team, added: “Completion of this project has come about through partnership working with South Yorkshire Police, who have helped with training and mentoring, and the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner who provided funding for safety kit.
“The team is now in a position to support a range of policing operations in urban and rural areas – from busy town centres to remote National Parks. I know they will make a real difference in our communities.”