Officers and PCSO’s from Rochdale North and East Neighbourhood Teams were joined by three Special Constables, several community volunteers and United Utilities to carry out our first ‘Operation Dragster’ off road bike operation on Sunday 12th January
The operation covered across the moorland areas of Rochdale from Owd Betts across to the junction with Oldham District at the M62 Junction 22.
Police responded to reports from a member of the public of three vans dropping off eight off road bikes up on Windy Hill next to the telecoms mast on the border with Saddleworth.
Officers were able to detain three off road bikers as they returned to the vans.
These bikes were seized under Section 59 Police Reform Act as they had passed the warning signs. The riders were also issued Community Protection Warnings which have conditions to prohibit them carrying out any similar activities in the area.
The other five riders decided they didn’t want to return to the two remaining vans to face the consequences of their actions. Unfortunately for them they were parked inconsiderately and blocking access to the entrance to the telecoms mast and also access to a farm so both of the vans were seized for causing an unnecessary obstruction.
The riders and owners will now face fines and recovery fees, we hope that they will get the message not to come to Rochdale District or its borders to carry out off road bike activities as police say they will always take the strongest possible action in circumstances like this and will be doing regular operations throughout the year.
Some people argue that these activities are just recreational fun however as mentioned many times previously, it causes danger and distress to legitimate users of the land and also animals, as well as causing a lot of damage to the land. The farmer whose land they had ridden through informed us that groups of road bikers had caused significant damage to their land over recent weeks so it was good that we would support them with this enforcement action today. – Sgt Walsh – Rochdale North Neighbourhood.
