Bikes seized in Bank Holiday blitz on off-road bikes
Police seized nine off-road bikes in the West Midlands as part of a Bank Holiday blitz on bikers running amok on quiet roads during the coronavirus lockdown.
Traffic cops from West Midlands Police were out in force of the Easter weekend, supported by a police helicopter.
They dispersed bike groups spotted behaving anti-socially and pursued several suspects who tried to make off.
A total of nine bikes, including quad-bikes and scramblers, were seized and are now in police recovery yards. Four of those have been confirmed as stolen.
Four people were arrested and a further four were summonsed to appear at court at a later date.
The arrests included a 25-year-old man pursued in Wolverhampton on Good Friday before being arrested on suspicion of failing to stop for police and dangerous driving.
He has been released under investigation pending advice from the Crown Prosecution Service. The bike was found to have been stolen.
Sergeant Mitch Darby said: "The majority of people are behaving responsibly and staying at home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. But there are some who seemed to think the unusually quiet roads was an opportunity to ride dangerously and anti-socially.
"We had planned for the prospect and had significant numbers of police bikers out over the long weekend, while the police helicopter was hovering above to offer support.
"Our efforts continue on Easter Monday and throughout the lock down period. And our message is clear to any off-road bikers caught riding irresponsibly – you face being arrested, we will seize your bike and apply to the courts to confiscate and crush it."
