Crackdown on off-road vehicle nuisance

 Officers across Merseyside will be taking part in a week-long initiative aimed at putting the brakes on the criminal and anti social use of scrambler bikes across the county.

The force is also concerned that scramblers seem to be the chosen transport for offenders involved in recent gun crime incidents particularly in the Liverpool, Stockbridge Village and Bootle areas.

 In the last 12 months it has become increasingly apparent that many of the riders of these bikes have a complete disregard for other decent, law-abiding members in their communities and don't concern themselves with the potential consequences.

Operation Brookdale will centre on areas across Merseyside where communities have suffered from the criminal and anti social use of scrambler and quad bikes.

The force receives regular complaints about the misuse of these vehicles and on average seizes approximately 800 scrambler/quad bikes a year. And scrambler bikes have been used in 12 of the shootings the force has dealt with this year.

Concerns have been raised by residents in different areas of the force where scramblers have been used illegally on local parkland, farmland and other open spaces and police are warning those using the bikes that they will be aiming to seize bikes if they are being used criminally, or in an anti social way.

It is illegal to ride a scrambler bike anywhere except the road, and then riders must conform to the Highway Code and have all the relevant documents and safety equipment.

Neighbourhood officers in all of the Basic Command Units (Liverpool North, Liverpool South, Wirral, Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley) will be supported in their high-visibility patrols by officers from the specialist Matrix team, Roads Policing Department, Vehicle Crime and the mounted and dog sections.

Officers will be patrolling parkland and open spaced on police scrambler and quad bikes, and they will be able to access the areas that would normally be difficult to get to for regular patrols. Plain clothes officers will also take part in the operation.

Police will use intelligence gathered locally to target their activities to the places where the illegal bikers are known to ride - and are urging communities to take a stand and let their local police know where scrambler bikes are being used illegally so that they can take the necessary action.

As well as seizing bikes, officers will also be strongly enforcing traffic law in the roads in a bid to restrict the activities of the illegal riders across the county.

Schools officers and PCSOs will also be visiting local schools in a bid to educate young people about the dangers of scrambler bikes and the laws surrounding their use as well as the potential consequences.

And visits will also be made to garage propietors by officers and PCSOs as there are concerns that young people using these bikes illegally are still able to get petrol to use the bike, and they will be asking the local garages to support police in not allowing anyone under 16 to buy fuel.

Chief Superintendent Rob Carden, Area Commander of St Helens, said: "Merseyside Police will not tolerate the criminal, or anti social use of scrambler, or quad bikes.

 "Some times the riders of these bikes don't understand the consequences for local communities and the harm that the use of these bikes can cause. Recently across the force there have also been a number of serious injuries caused to the riders of these bikes following collisions.

 "In September in St Helens we saw two people, aged 28 and 15 years, seriously injured when two off-road motorbikes collided at the site of the Dream sculpture in Sutton Manor."

 He continued: "Working together with local people and partner agencies, we are determined to tackle drivers who are blighting our neighbourhoods. Our communities should be reassured that Merseyside Police is working hard to take nuisance vehicles and and the criminals who use them off our roads.

 "Anyone who takes to the roads illegally and poses a danger to pedestrians and other motorists on our roads, risks losing their licence and if their reckless driving results in injury or death they will face a prison sentence. My messages to these people is Ask yourself - is it worth the risk?"

 "We will not stand idly by and let these offenders think they can run amok in our local communities. This Operation aims to take as many illegal riders off our roads and parks as possible to make our communities safer.

 "Merseyside Police wants to send a clear message to anyone using a scrambler illegally in Merseyside - you cannot ride your bike illegally in our parks or open spaces, and we will take the strongest action we can against you."

 Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Environmental Protection and Safer Communities at St. Helens Council said: "This sort of selfish behaviour can cause distress, and be a dangerous menace to local communities. We encourage all residents to report the crime to Merseyside Police when they see such vehicles out and about causing a nuisance in their area. "

Added Councillor Gareth Cross, Cabinet Member for Service Audits, Quality Control and Enforcement: ''These off road scramblers are not only a noise nuisance but are a danger to the community, especially those using our parks and open spaces. They are driven by irresponsible people, who have little regard for their own safety let alone the safety of others."

Off-road bike fact file