Police operation tackles off-road bike nuisance

Police operation tackles off-road bike nuisance

Officers in Rochdale have launched an operation to crack down on off-road bikers and antisocial behaviour. 

Dubbed Operation Hurricane, the campaign sees Rochdale Neighbourhood Officers, PCSOs, Traffic Officers, Special Constables, United Utilities, and community volunteers joining forces to restore order in the Rochdale North area. 

The operation saw significant success, notably with the assistance of the National Police Air Service (NPAS). In one instance, NPAS tracked a group of off-road bikers spotted committing offences in the Rooley Moor area. 

Following a pursuit, one rider was located at an address in Rossendale, where ground officers arrested him after he failed a roadside drug test. His bike was subsequently seized.

In a separate incident near Rooley Moor on Knacks Lane, another off-road biker was detained after riding recklessly past cattle and near a horse rider. This individual also failed a roadside drug test and was arrested for drug and motoring offences, with his bike being confiscated.

Additionally, two individuals preparing to unload off-road bikes for riding on the moors were issued Section 59 Police Reform Act Warnings, and their van was also sanctioned. Two other vans that breached Section 59 Warning signs and drove onto Rooley Moor were seized.

Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) will be issued to those suspected of offences, aiming to prevent further unlawful or anti-social off-road activities.

Sgt Walsh from the Rochdale North Neighbourhood Team said: “We will continue to run operations over the coming months to deal with these issues. It is clearly unacceptable that off-road bikers are causing antisocial behaviour with these activities. 

Doing so whilst potentially unfit through drugs makes this even more serious and potentially dangerous to legitimate users of the land. We will always take positive action when offenders are apprehended.”