The battle against illegal off-road bikers in Greater Manchester town

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A problem blighting dozens of communities across Greater Manchester is to be the subject of 'decisive steps' by the police. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have confirmed that a specialist off road bike unit will be re-established for the region in the coming weeks to address off-road motorcycle anti-social behaviour and related crime.

In a letter to councillors in Bolton who recently debated a motion on the issue, a spokesman for GMP's specialist operations branch gave an update.

They, said: "The specialist operations branch is taking decisive steps to address off-road motorcycle anti-social behaviour and related crime. "In the coming weeks, a dedicated unit will be launched to tackle this problem head-on. "This unit will operate on an intelligence-led basis, utilising regular analysis of data and trends to effectively deploy resources across Greater Manchester. "Rest assured, the re-establishment of this specialised unit underscores our commitment to tackling the persistent problems caused by off-road bikes. Join the Manchester Politics WhatsApp group here "We recognise the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents, as well as protecting our green spaces and local amenities from damage." Some illegal off-road bikers face having their bikes seized, or even crushed.

In December 2022, the MEN reported that neighbourhoods in Oldham were being blighted by ‘illegal dirt bikes’ being ridden at ‘all hours’ and a spate of antisocial behaviour and crime.