THE dangerous and anti-social use of off-road bikes is a problem in towns and cities across the UK.

In Heaton, in May, a quad biker was seriously injured in a crash with a car and the previous month a quad bike being ridden along pavements in Wyke was seized and found to be in a dangerous condition with defective brakes and engine faults.

These number among incidents involving off-road machines, which can blight the lives of others. People suffer nuisance, hazard and noise as they are driven, often recklessly, around residential areas.

On July 1 last year a special Anti-Social Behaviour Bike Team was set up by West Yorkshire Police and has responded to more than 775 incidents. This has resulted in almost 250 vehicles being seized and numerous warnings and prosecutions being handed out.

The team, made up of four officers split into two teams, has had a huge impact upon the number of incidents, which have fallen by 22 per cent from 997 the previous year.

The bike squad was set up to combat increasing nuisance incidents involving motorbikes and quad bikes across the district, particularly during summer.

“Dry, warm weather is usually the busiest period for anti-social behaviour vehicle use, especially during school holiday periods and at weekends,” says team member PC Dave Hitchcocks. “Over winter, quad bikes are more of an issue, especially when there is snow fall.”

Officers respond to any nuisance incident involving two-wheeled vehicles such as mini-moto bikes, off-road motorcycles, scooters and road-legal motorcycles - as well as incidents involving quad bikes. More recently, the squad is also looking to take action, where possible, against nuisance motor vehicles such as cars and vans.

Hot spots within the Bradford district include estates such as Holme Wood, Ravenscliffe and Bierley. Areas such as Flappit quarry or large wooded areas and parks can also be a magnet for vehicle abusers.

In cases of anti-social behaviour, the vehicle and rider are put on a 12 month warning under section 59 of the 2002 Police Reform Act. “If a further incident is discovered within this time, the vehicle being used at the time can be seized,” says PC Hitchcocks. “The owner has to pay to retrieve it and if not claimed, they are generally crushed.

“Riders are usually given at least a section 59 warning when dealt with by the team, as well as road safety advice, if they are open-minded enough to listen to the officers.”

More commonly, riders are males aged between their mid-teens to mid-twenties. “But during the past year we have dealt with much younger and much older people,” says PC Hitchcocks. “Younger users tend not to think about the consequences of being involved in a collision, or just falling off and badly injuring themselves or others.

“A lot of anti-social behaviour vehicle use involves the unlicensed/uninsured use of vehicles as well as use of stolen vehicles. As such, these riders tend not to care about the repercussions and often take unnecessary risks.

“The usual repercussion of anti-social behaviour bike use is the noise nuisance. A peaceful summer evening in the garden can be shattered by it. “

To be used on the road, quad bikes must be approved by the manufacturer to meet road safety standards, registered, taxed, tested and have an MOT. Although helmets are not required, most insurance companies insist that one is worn and pillion passengers are only allowed on certain designs.

In common with most off-road vehicles, mini moto bikes should only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission. “This should also take into account nearby residents or businesses, as well as wildlife and habitat concerns,” says PC Hitchcocks.

Sometimes, when dealing with cases, officers may find that road traffic offences including dangerous driving, or driving while disqualified, have been committed. Adds PC Hitchcocks: “The rider may be given a warning, a fine or reported and put before the courts. We have dealt with drivers for disqualified and dangerous driving and they have found themselves imprisoned.”

The squad has also helped to recover stolen motorbikes and quads. Recently, a motorbike taken from the Keighley area was discovered in Bradford by a specialist police rider.

Any vehicle can be kept on private property. However, anyone living in rented or housing association accommodation needs to check their terms and conditions to see if it is allowed to be kept there.

*Nuisance vehicles can be reported by calling 101 or 999 if there is an immediate risk to life and limb. Email bradforddistrictasbbiketeam@westyorkshirepolice.pnn.uk or call Bradford Council on (01274) 373968.