A TEAM leading a crackdown on nuisance motorbikes that has resulted in 89 machines being seized in three months has received a boost.

The Bradford District Anti-Social Behaviour Bike Unit has replaced older bikes with two Honda CRF motorcycles, which will help catch nuisance bikers.

Police said the new bikes are "extremely capable both on and off-road, with plenty of power for any conditions they face". The bikes will have flashing red and blue lights on the front and back, as well as heated hand grips.

PC David Hitchcocks, of the bike unit, said: "The team has had some fantastic results already this summer and the new bikes will help us to continue with the excellent work being conducted.

"The bikes cope easily with the conditions we face off-road and are highly visible when on the road.

"I would encourage any members of the community who see us out on patrol to come and speak with us about any nuisance issues they are suffering and have a look at the bikes for themselves and maybe even get a picture while sat on one of them!"

Since the unit’s creation in July, 89 bikes and quads have been seized in Bradford district. The majority were for breaching warnings issued under section 59 of the Police Reform Act and being used in an anti-social manner. Some were seized for being in a dangerous condition, for no insurance, driving licence offences, or because they were stolen.

Last month, police issued a dramatic video of seized motorbikes and quad bikes being crushed in a vivid warning to nuisances bikers of the potential costs of their illegal actions.

Vehicles that are not claimed by their owners are taken to a dismantling site and sorted to be salvaged or scrapped.

Those which are scrapped are put into a large hydraulic compacting machine which reduces the bikes into a small cube of scrap metal and plastic.

These are put through another machine that sorts the metal and plastic. Another machine chews up wiring looms from the vehicles to produce plastic which is suitable for the spongy surface of children’s play areas.

The bikes that are not scrapped are sold on.

PC David Hudson, of the unit, said: "We continue to deal with offences we come across during our daily patrols but still need the help of the communities we serve to come forward and let us know about problem areas, the identities of nuisance riders and the locations where bikes and quads are being stored.

"If you see anti-social behaviour vehicle use, report it to us immediately and we will come out to your area and take positive action when and where we can."

The unit can be contacted on 01274 376180, 101, by email on bradforddistrictasbbiketeam@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk, or via westyorkshire.police.uk.