Northumbria Police will ‘take action’ against ‘safety risk’ off-road bikes

Off-road bikers have been warned they face having their vehicles seized or destroyed if they ride them illegally in Newcastle.

It is illegal for off-road bikes to be used in public spaces such as housing estates, parks and on the streets.

But complaints have been made about a small minority of riders who are driving their vehicles at high speeds on footpaths and in parks in the city.

Cllr Clare Penny-Evans, Newcastle City Council cabinet member for climate change and public safety, and chair of the safe Newcastle Board, said: “Newcastle is renowned for being a vibrant city with a rich history which makes it such an attractive place for people to live in or visit.

“We are aware bikes are being driven illegally and in an anti-social manner in the city but this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

“The bikes are not only causing a nuisance in our communities but they are a safety risk for residents. We encourage residents to contact the police if they see any incidents so appropriate action can be taken.

“We will continue to work with the public and Northumbria Police to ensure that our city remains safe for everyone.”

Chief Inspector Dave Wheeler, of Northumbria Police, said: “It’s disappointing that the behaviour of a small minority can give responsible bike owners a bad name, and cause wider issues for people living in our communities.

“We know tackling this type of anti-social behaviour is important to people, which is why we are working hard alongside our partners in the local authority to prevent it from happening.

“As part of our approach we also work with residents, asking them to share their concerns with us so we can take appropriate action, which includes deploying patrols in reported hot spot areas to catch offenders in the act, using long lens cameras to identify riders and motorcycles, as well as seizing and destroying bikes and prosecuting offenders.”

Off-road bike users must have permission from the person who owns the land to ride their vehicles there.

They also must not be used on a public highway to access private land.

If you have any information about bike-related anti-social behaviour in your community, report it using Northumbria Police’s ‘Tell us Something’ page.

Alternatively, call 101 or contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.