by Marc Meneaud T&A Reporter Illegal motorbike riders face having their bikes seized when police in Bradford start a summer-long crackdown.

The operation – code-named Stannary – begins tomorrow and will target illegal and dangerous riders in the Queensbury, Wibsey and Buttershaw areas of the city.

Neighbourhood police will seize illegal bikes and remove them from the community in a bid to curb nuisance behaviour.

Inspector Darren Brown said the police will be calling on the community for help.

He said: “We need all the information we can from the public to be able to effectively tackle the issue. If you know where the bikes are coming from, who is on them or who owns them, please tell us immediately and in as much detail as possible.

“The warmer weather and the already-increased popularity of these vehicles mean we often see an increase in reports of nuisance behaviour.”

Riders must be 16 or over and hold a driving licence for bikes to ride a motorbike or quad on roads, pavements, verges, footpaths and bridleways. Even if the bike is being used on private land, the rider must have the land owner’s permission.

Insp Brown said: “Anyone found to be using these vehicles in an anti-social or unlawful manner will have the vehicle seized and will have to pay the recovery and storage charges to have the vehicle released. The rider is also likely to be prosecuted for contravention of the Road Traffic Act.”

He added: “We are working hard to combat the nuisance caused to local residents in Bradford by these off-road motorcycles. Where we can, we will be seizing them and having them crushed.

“They can be a danger to the public and the riders themselves. What some of the riders are unaware of is that they can commit road traffic offences which can result in them being banned before they even hold a licence.

“This can then affect them when they wish to drive legally in a car and can bump up their insurance premiums quite considerably, so what they do now can cause problems for them in the future.”

Anyone wishing to report nuisance bikes and their owners should contact their Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) on (01274) 376788 or on 0845 6060606.