Police in mid Wales have issued a number of fixed penalty notices to off-road bikers who were found riding in a Welsh forest - some of whom had travelled from the Midlands to do so.
Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police were called to the Dyfi Forest near Machynlleth on Sunday.
They discovered several people taking part in what they described as “anti-social riding”, with a number of vehicles including vans and motorbikes parked at the scene.
Officers were responding to concerns raised by the community and exercised powers under Section 59 of the Police and Reform Act 2002, which gives them the ability to seize and remove vehicles which they believe are being driven in “a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance”.
They also issued a number of fixed penalty notices for breach of coronavirus restrictions, and confirmed that some of those present had driven from the “west Midlands and further”.
A spokesman for the Ceredigion Roads Policing Unit said: “Enjoy our scenery, don’t spoil it for families and visitors.”
Meanwhile, the Ceredigion Command Team at Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Really pleased with the work of the team and Inspector Gareth Earp who have targeted off-road motorbiking in the Dyfi Forest.
“It’s a common complaint coming from our community, and we will always challenge such anti-social behaviour and misuse of the land.
"Anti-social motorbiking is a major nuisance."
Under the current restrictions outlined by the Welsh Government, travelling into Wales is not permitted “without a reasonable excuse”.
This would include travelling to and from work, or to provide care, but does not extend to off-road biking. Even visiting family and friends who are not in your extended household is not currently considered to be a reasonable excuse.
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Even with regards to travelling within Wales, the government is asking people to “think carefully about the journeys they take”.
A spokesman for the Welsh Government said: “We should all think carefully about where we go and who we meet because the more places we go and the more people we meet, the greater the chances there are of catching coronavirus.”
