A message from Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen... Illegal off-road bikes are not harmless fun – they are a danger to our communities

A message from Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen... Illegal off-road bikes are not harmless fun – they are a danger to our communities

The illegal and dangerous use of off-road bikes has become a scourge in too many of our communities.

Residents have shared their fears and concerns with me about bikes being ridden at speed through housing estates, along public paths, on roads and across our countryside. Riders often wearing balaclavas, carrying no identification and showing little regard for pedestrians, other road users or the communities they intimidate.

This is not harmless fun. These machines can cause serious injury or death. They damage land and wildlife, create unacceptable noise and leave residents frightened to use paths and open spaces that belong to everyone.

That is why partners recently came together at a multi-agency meeting convened by a local MP’s office. Police, councils and other agencies met to share intelligence, problem-solve and identify further action to relentlessly pursue those responsible.

For a number of years Durham Constabulary’s Operation Endurance has provided a strong basis for this targeted enforcement but we are also examining how drones and other technology can help locate bikes and gather evidence, alongside the use of vehicle seizure powers. 

I want these illegal bikes confiscated and I want them permanently removed from our streets and, where lawful and appropriate, crushed.

Changes to Section 59 of the Road Traffic Act, which came into force on 30 June, mean officers no longer need to issue a warning before taking enforcement action against anti-social driving.  The new legislation allows police to seize a vehicle at the first incident where it is being driven carelessly, inconsiderately, at excessive speed, or in a way that causes annoyance to other road users.

We are also exploring every available route to hold riders, and those enabling them, to account. This includes potential action through tenancy conditions where bikes are stored or used from rented properties, as well as parenting interventions and orders where young people are repeatedly involved.

But the public have a vital role to play too.

Every incident needs to be reported, so it is recorded. If incidents go unreported, the true scale and pattern of the problem will remain hidden and hamper our efforts to identify those responsible.

We need local information about where these bikes are being stored and who is riding them.

Residents may know which garages, sheds or properties are being used. They may notice riders leaving at times, following the same routes or returning somewhere to clean mud from their bikes. 

Information about names, locations, days, times, vehicles used to transport bikes and patterns of activity can help police identify offenders, seize illegal bikes and take action.

Please do not confront riders or put yourself at risk. If a bike is being ridden dangerously and there is an immediate threat to life or public safety, call 999. Other incidents and information can be reported to Durham Constabulary online or by calling 101.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through its website. Crimestoppers will not ask for your name, and the police will not know who supplied the information.

We are all determined to tackle this menace, but we need communities to work with us. One small piece of information could be the missing link that enables police to locate a bike, identify its rider and remove a dangerous vehicle from our streets.

These riders do not own our roads, paths, estates or countryside. By reporting what you see and sharing what you know, you can help us reclaim those spaces and make our communities safer, stronger and more resilient to crime and anti-social behaviour.