As the weather gets warmer, police and council teams in Sandwell have warned that off-road vehicles, including motorbikes, could be seized and crushed if they are used illegally.

Sandwell Police and Sandwell Council are jointly tackling nuisance caused by the illegal use of these vehicles, which include motocross, trial and endurance bikes, mini motos, quad bikes, electric scooters and any other mechanically propelled vehicle.

Bikes are being seized and CCTV footage used to identify hotspots and track down people who are riding illegally and dangerously, putting themselves and others at risk.
West Midlands police officers have been equipped with DNA spray to ‘tag’ motorbikes and riders causing anti-social behaviour in the community. For more information, you can visit west-midlands.police.uk.

The police and council are also raising awareness through school talks as well as installing equipment at key locations to prevent illegal bike access.

Reports of nuisance off-road bikes to the police and council have been rising. A resident awareness campaign has been running, resulting in an improvement in the quality of information being received.

Sandwell’s Neighbourhood Policing Chief Inspector, Paul Griffiths, said: “As we head into summer and the weather improves, we expect a rise in outside activities, including the use of off-road bikes. However, it is illegal to ride these bikes through any public spaces, including parks, play areas and on pavements, as this is dangerous for anyone who wants to use these spaces safely.

“Officers are continuing to carry out activity in hotspot areas across Sandwell as we tackle the menace and dangers of off-road bikes. Our teams have already made some seizures and we’ll continue to act on any information we receive to prevent illegal riding and keep people safe.”

Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, said: “We are determined to make sure that our residents can enjoy our parks and other outside spaces safely this summer, without being put at risk by the illegal use of off-road motorbikes.

“If you were thinking of using your off-road bike in the warmer weather, please ensure that you are using it legally, safely and with the permission of the landowner. If you don’t follow the rules, your bike could be seized and crushed.”

Residents are encouraged to report nuisance motorbikes as incidents are happening to the police, either by calling 101, via Live Chat on West Midlands Police’s website or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Or report bike nuisance online to Sandwell Council – please include details such as vehicle registration information and a description of the bike or rider (such as the colour of the bike and clothing).