A police force has unleased a crack team of officers with all-terrain scramblers to target anti-social yobs. Derbyshire Police are using three specialist off-road dirt bikes, which can even be driven through water, to pursue criminals across the countryside.
The new petrol-powered Honda CRFs will be able to reach areas which normal police patrol vehicles struggle to navigate as crooks increasingly evade more conventional pursuits. Specially trained officers from the roads policing unit will use them to tackle offenders using illegal motorbikes across wasteland areas.
They will also help during searches for high-risk, missing and vulnerable people as well as responding to reports of crime, such as drug dealing, in secluded locations. Adam Titterton, sergeant in the roads policing unit, said: “We’ve seen a rise in the number of reports we receive about the illegal use of motorbikes in some of Derbyshire’s most beautiful parks and countryside.
“Over the last few months, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to source scrambler bikes such as these, so that we have the tools to better target this antisocial behaviour. We’re looking forward to getting out and speaking to people, so that we can prevent further anti-social behaviour and better educate the illegal riders in the law and how to legally use off-road bikes.”
Police and crime commissioner Angelique Foster said the bikes will help officers tackle a "raft of crimes" blighting the neighbourhood, adding: "They will play an important role in the work to tackle the anti-social and criminal use of motorcycles, as well as a range of rural problems such as machinery theft, trespass and poaching.
“It’s important that police officers are provided with the right equipment and training to tackle the changing nature of crime and anti-social behaviour and I am pleased to see my investment being used to address problems that are of concern to local communities.”
