Police take to the roads to catch illegal bikers

Sgt David Williams and PC Andy Burrell are using motorbikes to catch culprits

Police in Telford have been cracking down on illegal off-road biking, which they say is a "danger for members of the public".

West Mercia Police said it had seen an increase in complaints from local people who had seen the bikes being ridden on paths and in parks.

It is illegal to ride off-road motorbikes and quad bikes on public land like bridleways and footpaths.

Sgt David Williams is part of the force's motorcycle team and said the use of police motorbikes was helping officers tackle the issue more effectively and "make our community safer".

West Mercia Police is being assisted by West Midlands Police, which has provided off-road bikes for the operation.

There is also air support from the National Police Air Service, whose aircraft are able to spot and track the riders.

Off-road bikes from West Midlands Police are also being used to pursue people on rough terrain

Sgt Williams said officers get "numerous calls" from the public about off-road biking, meaning they can "build up a picture of where [offenders] are, what time of day they're there".

"We're taking this issue to them directly as opposed to waiting for a call and nobody being available," he added.

The project, dubbed Operation Spree, is being led by Sgt Richard Jones.

"Telford is mainly built up of close communities, so they're riding on pavements around housing estates and causing distress and danger for members of the public," he said.

Senior PCSO Katy Balaam says off-road bikes can affect the whole community

Sgt Jones added that a lot of riders were not wearing the appropriate kit, including helmets, and often did not have the skills required to ride the bikes safely.

Senior Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Katy Balaam said people had reported feeling unsafe and scared by off-road bikes, and advised them to call 101 if they spotted riders using them in antisocial ways.