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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
John Scheerhout

Police launch crackdown to end the menace of off-road bikes in Trafford

Police have increased patrols following an increase in off-road bike use in Trafford.

Officers dished out warnings and seized a Land Rover Discovery as they launched their new initiative.

It follows a spike in reports nuisance, damage and fear caused by off-road bikes and buggies in Partington and Carrington over the last month.

A statement from Greater Manchester Police posted on its Trafford North Facebook page said: "Over the last month there has been a substantial increase in reports to the police about off road vehicles, quads, motorbikes and dirt buggies that have caused damage to farmer's crops, gating and fencing in the #Partington & #Carrington area.

"In response, #TraffordWestArea officers and officers from the Port of Liverpool Police launched joint patrolling in the areas affected.

"As a result, several vehicles containing off road vehicles have been stopped and instructed to leave the area."

Police seized this Land Rover Discovery (GMP Trafford North Facebook page)

Officers issued two warnings to drivers said to be causing an annoyance - their vehicles can be seized if they are caught a second time.

Police also seized a Land Rover Discovery which had been driving on land near Lock Lane in Partington.

In July, a 23-year-old man was left fighting for his life when he fell from an off-road bike on Common Lane in Carrington.

"The joint patrolling will continue for the foreseeable (future)," said the statement.

This Land Rover Discovery was seized in Partington (GMP Trafford North Facebook page)

In May dad-of-four Tariq Khan, 36, died in a quad bike collision on Green Lane, Great Lever, Bolton.

Illegal off-road motorbikes are causing anger and frustration for people living across the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.

Riders have damaged public property, left tracks across children's playgrounds and football pitches and in some cases caused themselves serious injury and even death.

Police have been working hard to curb the problem but one senior officer says things have become worse since the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown.

In some cases bikes are even being shipped in from Lancashire or Merseyside to be ridden in places like Stockport, Wigan and Rochdale.

Owning scrambler-style bikes and quads is not against the law if they are used to ride at licensed sites or on private property but it is when they are ridden on parks and public land.

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