By Joshua Robinson –

A new specialist bike unit dedicated to taking illegal riders off the road is now tackling the problem in the streets and fields of Kirklees.

The new Kirklees Nuisance Anti-Social Behaviour Team has begun operating across Kirklees and has already begun seizing machines and responding to calls.

This team is the first dedicated unit of its kind in Kirklees to combat illegal riders and wants to hear from residents who have issues in their communities.

The Kirklees Nuisance Anti-Social Behaviour Team will also make use of new tools and tactics to stop illegal bikers when appropriate and also track them down for action if they are not caught in the act.

Specific days of action with Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) and the force’s Roads Policing Unit are already being planned and work is ongoing with NPT colleagues on problem-solving.

The team is also reviewing submitted footage of a number of road bike incidents in the District and working to ID suspects for police attention.

In the first few days of June, the team has seized six bikes for offending, and issued four section 59 warnings which notify riders their vehicles may be seized if they are seen being used anti-socially.

Sergeant Shaun Oates, who leads the new team, said: “While we have had used off-road bike patrols for several years in the District, those officers have also had other duties and never been full time in the role.”

“The Nuisance ASB Team is the first dedicated unit of its kind we’ve had in Kirklees and allows us to operate with a new intensity and focus to invest time in communities which are having issues with off road riding.”

“We will be operating with police bikes, a police car and more tools than we’ve ever had before to both stop illegal bikes, when appropriate, and hunt down their owners.”

“I can promise our policing will be robust and we are keen to both make a quick impact in communities and hear from residents within them.”

Chief Inspector Rebecca Calpin of Kirklees Police, said: “We have been working for a long time to build up this new team which is a brilliant new asset which we know communities will really welcome.”

“Anti-social and illegal riding is not tolerated in our communities and never has been.  While we regularly have been prosecuting dangerous, riders having a dedicated unit only enhances our capabilities.”

“I want to thank those residents who do submit information and footage of illegal riding and urge them to please continue doing so.”

Chief Inspector Calpin added: “Summer unfortunately, can see an increase in this offending and we want to make use of good intelligence to helps us better deploy our team where they are needed.”

“That same footage and intelligence is also equally important in helping us track down suspects who may have fled.”

“We do and will continue to follow up every call we receive about illegal riding with efforts made to identify suspects via submitted footage, eye witness reports and checks with partners.”

“We currently already also conduct CCTV enquiries in areas where we have incidents and check footage from garages to help us ID illegal riders.”

Footage and information about illegal off road riding in communities can be given to people’s local NPT or reported on 101 or online at www.westyorkshire.police/livechat

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