Arrests in crackdown on ‘Mad Max-style’ bike gangs

A POLICE operation to tackle

‘Mad Max-style’ motorbike riders on housing estates in a Yorkshire city has led to numerous arrests.

A dedicated team was formed to tackle the issue after Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh spoke in Parliament in July about how offroad bikers were menacing thousands of people in the city’s parks and estates.

She compared scenes to those from Mad Max, the dystopian action film starring Mel Gibson.

More than 730 complaints have been made to police about the issue in a four-month period between August and November – the equivalent of six calls every day.

Detectives believe drug-dealing gangs have been using the offroad bikes as part of their distribution network.

But the team has just revealed their first wave of results, which included six arrests on suspicion of burglary and theft, possession of drugs and handling stolen goods.

Officers also issued formal written warnings to 64 riders for anti-social behaviour, 17 motorbikes were seized for having no insurance, 19 stolen vehicles were recovered and ten people have been reported on summons to appear at court for various riding offences.

Inspector Jason Booth said: “After listening to members of the public and key stakeholders at community meetings, we were able to identify an emerging trend involving the use of illegal motorbikes across the city.

“People were reporting similar experiences and problems in a number of neighbourhoods, which we used to plot the bikers’ movements and stop them in their tracks.

“We’ve seized motorbikes, reported individuals on summons and arrested those suspected of criminality, thanks largely to feedback from the public.

“We have our suspicions that some of the stolen bikes have been used in crimes such as burglary and drug dealing.

“Police bikers and dogs have been able to apprehend those riding illegally and bring them to justice.

“People should be reassured that criminal, reckless and irresponsible actions will not be tolerated.”