Op Brookdale: Bikes, scooter and moped seized

We seized a number of vehicles across Merseyside yesterday (Thursday 12 August) as part of an ongoing operation to target the anti-social and illegal use of off road bikes.

Police quad bikes were deployed to Birkenhead following recent reports of motorbikes and scooters being ridden in an anti-social behaviour manner. An electric scooter was seized after it was used to commit driving offences on Alwen Street, Birkenhead and the rider summonsed for road traffic offences.

Elsewhere, a Cube mountain bike was seized on suspicion of being stolen on Stanley Road, New Ferry and two men at the scene who claimed it was theirs instructed to present evidence of ownership before it is released.

Two burnt out motorcycles were recovered from Bidston Moss, Birkenhead, with one confirmed as having been stolen from Cearns Road, Birkenhead in October last year.  

In St Helens, a moped was recovered after it had been seen by officers parked with two males nearby, and then ridden into a wooded area on Ravenhead Green.  

Operation Brookdale, the force response to anti-social behaviour involving bikes and scooters, is run all year round. Merseyside Police works with partners from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS), the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter, local authorities, housing associations, schools and youth groups to target the anti-social and nuisance use of off-road bikes.
It utilises resources from Local Policing and other specialist departments and tactics range from intelligence gathering, to overt disruption and the execution of warrants. 

Chief Inspector Paul Sutcliffe said: “We know the annoyance the anti-social use of bikes and scooters causes residents in our communities.
“I hope news of every bike and scooter we take off the streets provides reassurance that we understand those concerns, and are determined to take action.

“Since Op Brookdale began in 2012, we have seen a year-on-year decrease in reports of anti-social behaviour and nuisance involving off-road motorbikes across Merseyside.

“More than 150 bikes have been seized in the last 12 months, many of which have been found to be stolen and have been reunited with their owners.

“I would like to take this opportunity to ask the public to keep coming forward with information on the anti-social use of off-road bikes and scooters, so that we can continue to take action and remove them from our communities.”

Anyone with information on the illegal and nuisance use of off-road bikes in their community is encouraged to contact @MerPolCC, call 101 or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111 #OpBrookdale