Police target estate plagued by off-road bikes

Tyre tracks can be seen on the grass at Brinnington Park

People living on an estate plagued by illegal off-road bikes have said they are too intimidated to go out at night.

Greater Manchester Police is trying to crack down on the nuisance, along with drug dealing and vandalism.

Officers have seized a number of off-road bikes from the estate in recent months.

Sgt Andy Kindness said officers try to find out where the young people live before taking the bikes, "rather than it ending up in a big pursuit".

'Too frightened'

Some residents on the Brinnington estate spoke to BBC Radio Manchester about crime in the area.

One woman said she was "disgusted" to see people dealing drugs on her morning walk to the shops.

"I've been round to the cash machine at night and I've left it because there's been youths circulating waiting to rob me," a man said.

"They had scarves over their faces and all you can see is their eyes."

An elderly woman on a mobility scooter said she was afraid to leave her house at night because she was "too frightened".

“I’ve seen people on bikes, and people trying to break into somebody’s house."

Sergeant Andy Kindness is a neighbourhood officer in Brinnington

An 18-year-old man who was riding illegally on the pavement along Northumberland Road without a helmet stopped and spoke to BBC Radio Manchester.

He claimed he had been targeted "for no reason".

He said: "I had some pit bikes recently taken off me by the police, and they claimed that they were stolen.

"But I paid cash for them and I had receipts but they don't want to listen.

"If they gave me a place to go on this bike... I wouldn’t have to ride round the estate with a balaclava on."

Police have cracked down on shoplifting at this supermarket in Brinnington

Anti-social behaviour in Stockport has been decreasing, according to the police, who said burglary is down by more than a third over the last two years.

There were 103 burglaries in March 2024. down from 162 the same month in March 2022.

In Brinnington, CCTV cameras have been installed near the leisure centre on Northumberland Road and police have arrested repeat offenders.

'Small minority'

"Some people don't like police officers but when you get chatting to them, they'll say you're alright," Sgt Kindness said.

"That's why it's important for the neighbourhood team to break down some barriers."

He added: "The crime goes in peaks and troughs as the generations change.

"It's really rewarding to identify a criminal and help to put them in prison."

John Barber, neighbourhood inspector for the central area of Stockport, said: "

He said: "In any area, a small minority of people are responsible to for most of the crime and they're the ones we'll target."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [e-mail]