Police use stinger devices and DNA spray against biker menace

West Midlands Chief Constable Dave Thompson said prosecutors were currently looking at bringing charges against 56 suspects.

Mass rideouts of tens of motorcyclists and off-road bikers recklessly riding in housing estates have been terrifying parts of the region.

Riders have been spotted on the A34 Birmingham Road, in Great Barr, close to the junction for the M6.

Footage posted online showed group members pulling wheelies and riding through red lights.

Mr Thompson said: "This is some of the most appalling lawlessness that we witness.

"That is both in terms of the danger they pose to the public, the anti social behaviour itself and the unwelcome phenomenon of the sharing of that behaviour on social media.

"It is something the force takes very seriously and I know the public have been left frustrated about the response.

"It can be very difficult to deal with because it can be very dangerous to the public and the individuals themselves."

Mr Thompson said injunctions had been taken out in Birmingham and Solihull and praised the work of firefighters in Sandwell.

He added: “We have started to use stinger devices, which are used against vehicles during pursuits, but we obviously have to think very carefully about how we use them against bikes.

“We regularly use the police helicopter. A high proportion of our success is actually photographing and taking images of clothing of large rideouts as part of our intelligence gathering.

"We have started using spray DNA to mark clothing and bikes which can then be matched on raids."

In an appeal of the public, he said: "I know people are very frustrated. I notice a lot of complaints that ask what we are doing about it.

"Unfortunately this is a very strange modern phenomenon that has been going on.

"But there is a determined effort by the force but the best way people can help is to provide information about the people engaged in this."