Police commissioner discusses new quad bike licences after crime rise

A YORKSHIRE police boss has discussed the possibility of a new national licensing system for quad bikes following a rise in rural crime involving these types of vehicles.

Bikers venturing on to the land, breaking down gates and fences, destroying crops, disturbing wildlife and, in some cases, chasing and killing animals such as hares and deer, often cruelly, are becoming a common occurrence in Doncaster, causing South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings, inset, to intervene.

Dr Billings, who recently met farmers in Doncaster to discuss their concerns, said: “The farming community should not have to endure this kind of wanton vandalism and criminality. It affects people’s well-being and presents a serious threat to livelihoods.”

Officers at the meeting spoke about how the police had responded to the growing nuisance of quad and off-road bikes by creating a fulltime police team of bikers. They have already had some success. In Hatfield, a number of bikes have been seized with fines issued and arrests made. Dr Billings confirmed additional funding had been allocated for the work to be expanded this year, with more officers to be trained to deal with rural crimes. A rural crime time is also being set up that will be based within the mounted team at Ring Farm in Barnsley. Dr Billings said: “The main problem is that neither the officers nor the bike team can be everywhere. The meeting discussed the possibility of bringing in nationally a system of licensing for quad bikes, rather as certain types of drone and shotguns were licensed. The farmers had spoken to MP Ed Miliband about this and I have said I will follow it up.”