A neighbourhood policing team have taken to the skies to try and tackle nuisance off-road bikers engaging in anti-social behaviour. GMP Bolton North are using this 'innovative' tactic to track bikers and make it easier to catch them.
Off-road bikes have been causing problems for local residents for a long time, police said, with officers wanting to provide people with reassurance that they will be stopped. They concede they can't stop every nuisance biker and will still require the public's help in clamping down on the issue.
Bolton North Neighbourhood Sergeant David Keir said: “I hope the ongoing positive action we’re taking to target the anti-social use of off-road bikes goes some way to reassure residents that we have heard their concerns and are taking them seriously. Off road bikers are a danger to themselves and other people so it’s important that we clamp down on this issue.
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“The GMP drone unit adds yet another arsenal to our kit that will allow us to target the areas where we suspect the bikes are being used and stored. We can’t catch every bike when it’s in action, but with the drone unit we now have the capability to track bikes and seize them based on video evidence obtained from the sky.
“Finding new and innovative ways to target offenders however is just part of the solution. Ultimately, we need the public’s help to make a real difference.
“If you know where an off road bike is being stored or used, please get in touch by emailing the Bolton Neighbourhood North team - boltonnorth@gmp.police.uk. Information can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“If you are able to safely obtain any footage or photos of off road bikes which we could use to build our intelligence picture, then please send this footage to Bolton.PartnershipTeam@gmp.police.uk. Any information you pass will be treated in confidence. Please do not put yourself in harm’s way to obtain footage - your safety is paramount.”
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