Just days before a crash that left a young man fighting for his life, Wigan police fired a warning against riding off-road bikes on the borough's streets.
Greater Manchester Police has been working with other bodies, including Wigan council, on a project called Operation Bluefin since March.
It was launched to clamp down on rising levels of anti-social behaviour - particularly to the east of the borough, in areas like Tyldesley.
At 4.45pm on Sunday (June 6), officers riding off-road bikes were following a man riding through the streets of Tyldesley.
GMP says that the rider, who was on a moped, had failed to stop at the officers' request.
The man, aged in his 20s, came off the bike near the Century City chip shop on Shuttle Street.
GMP has told the Manchester Evening News that its officers were pursuing the bike rider as part of Operation Bluefin.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed that it is investigating the incident.
A spokesperson for the police watchdog said: “We are independently investigating a collision involving a man on an off-road e-bike in the Tyldesley area of Wigan on Sunday.
“We received a referral from GMP about the incident due to the fact the vehicle was being pursued by officers at the time.
“Investigators attended the scene last night (Sunday) to assess the situation and will be reviewing CCTV and helmet-cam footage as part of our investigation.”
When Operation Bluefin was announced back in March, police warned that increasing warm weather could 'exacerbate issues' of anti-social behaviour during the pandemic, while other activities have been on hold.
Three months on, many lockdown restrictions have now been lifted, and Wigan police are focusing their attentions on the anti-social use of illegal bikes over the summer months.
Last Thursday (June 3), GMP Leigh, Atherton and Hindley warned of a crackdown on the illegal use of off-road bikes, like the vehicle being used in Sunday's collision.
A post on Facebook said: "GMP, in partnership with other agencies, will be targeting the illegal use off-road bikes this summer.
"Illegal off-road bikers face having their bikes seized, or even crushed."
Officers seized five off-road bikes from Wigan's roads in the first two weeks of Operation Bluefin back in March.
Speaking about the operation at the time, Coun Kevin Anderson, portfolio holder for community safety and civil contingencies at Wigan council, said the 'allocation of the mounted unit and off road bike teams from GMP is welcomed'.
He added: "We are pleased to see that Operation Bluefin is making an impact on local levels of anti-social behaviour."
Emergency services, including the air ambulance, raced to Shuttle Street on Sunday evening following the crash.
The man was rushed to hospital, where he was in a critical condition.
PC John Cavanagh, from GMP's Serious Investigation Collision Unit, said: "Our thoughts are with the man's family who are understandably distressed whilst he fights for his life in hospital.
"We have referred the incident to the IOPC due to the police contact in the moments before this incident. We will do all we can to support any subsequent investigation."
Anyone with information in relation to the crash is urged to contact GMP online, quoting incident number 2138 of June 6, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
