Pedal-power police tackle yobs problem

Police in Netherton are using pedal power to tackle the menace of mini-motos plaguing residents.

Problems of yobs riding around on off-road bikes are reported regularly, according to police.

Complaints are being made to the police on a weekly basis and officers say they are determined to crack down on the nuisance. Beauty spots such as Saltwells Nature Reserve and Bumble Hole Nature Reserve are magnets for the anti-social behaviour.

These are areas which are difficult for police officers to reach by car but now they are able to jump on their bike after Dudley Council awarded funding.

Around £3,000 was allocated from the Central Dudley Area Committee fund which has paid for eight bikes and kit for the officers to patrol the patch more effectively.

Acting sergeant Rob Dalton said: "We often get reports of off-road bikes causing a nuisance.

"It is an ongoing problem and I would say we receive numerous calls each week about it and complaints are also raised at meetings we have with residents.

"The bikes will enable us to quickly reach and patrol areas inaccessible by car, such as parks and grassland, towpaths and bridleways where we get reports of anti-social behaviour."

Ward councillors Bryan Cotterill and Lynda Coulter organised the funding for the team from the Netherton, Woodside and St Andrews ward and the Quarry Bank and Dudley ward.

Councillor Cotterill said: "We are pleased to make this contribution to the police, which will allow them to respond more quickly to our hotspots of anti-social behaviour."

For more information on what police are doing to tackle off road bike nuisance visit www.west-midlands .police.uk/np/dudley north and view the video.

Problems of off road bikes disturbing residents and churning up the landscape blight other areas of the borough and police in Dudley have also blitzed hotspots.