"We will find you" - Police warning to off-road bikers

MENACE: Off-road bikes are an increasing problem in North
Solihull and over the border in Shard End, Birmingham

PEOPLE who ride off-road bikes around parks and open spaces will be hauled before the courts, police have warned.

Sergeant Peter Wall, from the Kingshurst & Fordbridge neighbourhood team, said that putting the brakes on the boy racers was his No 1 priority in terms of anti social behaviour.

He was reacting to a rising number of complaints about masked men tearing around local parkland, nature reserves and alleyways.

One resident recently described the bikes as “a nightmare”, with the noise of the engines sometimes loud enough to drown out the TV.

In response to the problem, the neighbourhood team have enlisted help from the

force’s motorbike unit, with increased patrols in North Solihull this summer.

“The message to the riders…is that you are not welcome in the parks and open spaces. We will find you, we will identify you and we will prosecute you for what is a criminal act,” said Sgt Wall, in an interview with Radio WM.

Councillor Chris Williams (Green, Chelmsley Wood) explained that the problem used to be associated with warm weather, but now worried residents were getting in touch all year round.

“This past winter there was not a week when there weren’t off-road motorbike complaints,” he said.

“We have got a lot of alleyways/walkways where people live on and they are going round those blind bends and causing a danger for us all. People are afraid there will be an accident.”

The issue was discussed at a Full Council meeting last week, with concerns raised that police officers on foot were struggling to catch those responsible. It's hoped that the arrival of help from the motorbike officers will make it easier to chase and detain the culprits.

Bike box:

• The only place off-road bikes can be lawfully ridden is private land (with the permission of the landowner) or a dedicated track. Police advise riders that the nearest facilities locally are in Water Orton or Bickenhill.
• Those who flout the law can be hit with significant fines and may have their bike crushed.
• Solihull Community Housing has run an initiative called Operation Kickstart to try and crackdown on the problem.