60 motorbikes seized
POLICE in Runcorn have declared their drive to tackle off-road motorbikes a success after the seizure of more than 60 bikes with most heading to the crusher.
Sgt Steve Watson, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit (LPU), said officers receive about one or two reports a day connected to nuisance riders, rising to three to five a day over the weekend.
Despite the huge seizure rate – which Sgt Watson said was about three times that achieved in other Cheshire towns, scramblers have continued to cause annoyance across the town, albeit thankfully with no serious recent incidents such as crashes reported in the area.
Most bikes seized have been crushed.
However, there have been close calls including a reported collision between an off-roader and a pet dog, which again was fortunately not injured.
Sgt Watson said tackling the issue depends on information from the public, specifically photographs, video, names of offenders and locations of bikes.
Although not wanting to deter reports of nuisance riding taking place as it happens, he stressed that officers will be unlikely to act on the information because of resources being committed elsewhere and also the practical challenges of catching riders via Runcorn’s maze of alleys, paths, parks, busways and underpasses.
He said it is best and safer to do this when bikes are stationary.
The age of riders tends to be between around 15 and 20 years old, and about half are without a helmet, he said, adding that residents’ concerns over the bikes run the ‘full gamut’ but particularly when being ridden at speed in areas with young children.
Although some talks have taken place over trying to open a track for riders to use as an alternative to public nuisance riding, he said there are concerns that riders would probably travel there by motorbike.
Sgt Watson added that members of the public should be reassured that they are allowed to take pictures of nuisance bikes when the person taking the picture is on public land.
The policy of crushing bikes also seems to be having a desired effect.
Sgt Watson said: “It’s a bit upsetting knowing if we’ll seize it and crush it, it leads to ‘I’ll do anything not to get caught’.
“We have a drone that we can use to follow, we have off-road motorcycles who can follow up, as someone who raced motocross for over 40 years, I can say with some certainty if you have got a reasonable amount of skill, we’re not going to catch you.”
Information from the public is vital because of the Runcorn layout maze.
He said: “It makes it extra difficult – we have a busway.
“We used the busway as well and that’s another way to get from A to B without being seen by a routine patrol. A police car in general would find it very difficult to pursue a motorbike off-road.
“We need help from the public but need photos, videos, names and locations of bikes being stored and we will act.”
Residents are advised to email runcorn.lpu@ cheshire.pnn.police.uk FREE ERYON DELIVORDE RS ALL OVER