Clifton police officers have seized an off-road bike and an E-scooter as part of Operation Entoiled which targets anti-social behaviour in the area.
Plain clothed officers have patrolled both on foot and in car to help tackle the issue, which is directly in response to an increase in calls from local residents about the illegal use of off-road motorbikes and e-scooters in public areas and residential streets.
Two trainee officers who are on attachment to the local neighbourhood team as part of their Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship, PC Toby Roberts and PC Charlie O'Donnell, were part of the operation.
The bike was seized from two juveniles who had previously both been issued Sec 59 notices riding an off road bike on Southchurch Drive. The vehicle will now be sent for destruction.
PC Toby Roberts said: “ The use of off-road bikes in residential areas is very dangerous and this operation this week has been a great success.
"The two youths riding the off road bike in a busy residential area have both previously been warned under Sec 59 of the Police Reform Act.
"The seized bike will now be sent for destruction. I like the proactive side of policing and I am really enjoying my time on attachment with the Clifton Neighbourhood Policing Team”
Officers said they also seized "a powerful E-scooter from a juvenile riding on the shopping precinct causing pedestrians, some elderly and some with mobility issues alarm, distress and annoyance by them having to move out they when the rider sounded the horn as he rode towards them".
This rider has also been issued with a Sec 59 notice and will be reported for the driving offences. Further breaches of the Sec 59 notice within 12 months will allow police to seize any vehicle and enter non dwelling premises in order to do so.
Sergeant Nigel Bradley of the Clifton Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Over recent weeks we have received an increase in calls about off road bikes being ridden around the streets of the Clifton Estate often involving teenagers riding the vehicles without protective headgear.
"We have run the operation n in response to these calls and I am pleased that two vehicles ridden illegally have been seized.
"The operation today utilised two officers on a six-week attachment from the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship programme working alongside officers from the Clifton Neighbourhood Policing Team. The two officers have got a great deal out of the experience today and have seen the proactive side of policing the Clifton estate."
