Police begin crackdown on motorcycle-based criminality in Sheffield using 'tactical contact'

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said the force knows that ‘off-road bikes, the nuisance, anti-social behaviour and serious crime linked to them are a concern for our communities’.

They added: “Officers’ message is clear- we will use all available tactics to stop them committing crime and causing fear and harm to our communities. With motorcycle-based criminality increasing, officers are using tactical contact to stop and apprehend those who are committing crime.”

On Sunday, July 31 plain clothes officers in unmarked police cars spotted three off road riders riding on pedestrian walkways and pavements, at speed around Sheffield.

Two of the riders were also failing to display registration plates on their vehicles.

At 6:20pm officers located the riders on their bikes refuelling at a petrol station on Dyche Lane, Coal Aston.

Utilising their unmarked vehicles and pre-authorised tactics, officers swooped in on the forecourt and two of the riders attempted to evade officers and were knocked off their bikes to stop them.

Two of the riders were detained resulting in a 21 year-old man who has been reported on summons on suspicion of driving while disqualified and with no insurance to appear at court at a later date.

One man is outstanding and police urge him to speak with them about the use of his motorcycle which they now have possession of.

Commenting on the crackdown, Roads Policing Inspector Clifton said: “Off road bikes are one of the biggest concerns to our communities.

“We (SYP) are a privileged force to have a full time Off Road Bike Intervention Team but tackling motorcycle criminality doesn’t stop with that team.

"Specialist roads policing pro-active officers and teams from across the force are also tackling the associated crimes and anti-social behaviour.

“We hear time and time again from our communities that the riders are ‘not causing any harm’ or ‘just having fun’ but this isn’t the case. These riders have the capability to cause serious or fatal harm to pedestrians, and other road users, as well as damaging infrastructure and farmers’ livelihoods.

“We have also seen a rise in such vehicles being used to facilitate serious crime and need to be stopped.

“As always we continue to clamp down on those who use the road network, in whatever vehicle that may be in to commit criminality. We will be firm, we will be strong, as this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.”

If off road bikes or motorcycles are a concern for you please report it via South Yorkshire Police’s online portal here: https://smartcontact.southyorkshire.police.uk/advice/nuisance-motorbikesvehicles/