Appeal for information after damage caused to police motorcycle in Wirral

We are appealing for information after a police motorcycle was damaged in Wirral yesterday (Tuesday 16 May).

At around 5.15pm, an officer seized an off-road motorcycle at the roundabout on Fender Lane and Hoylake Road, and a 17-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of drug driving, dangerous driving and theft.

Shortly afterwards, a group of eight youths, some wearing balaclavas, tried to take the off-road motorcycle. They also caused damage to the officer's police motorcycle.

The youths then fled the area on foot. Following enquiries, an 18-year-old man from Beechwood was arrested later that evening on suspicion of affray, criminal damage and attempt of theft of a motor vehicle. He has been released under investigation.

We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this incident or captured it on dashcam footage to please get in touch.

Sergeant Simon Duffy from our Roads Policing Unit said: “The group of youths have tried to intimidate the officer, attempted to take a seized off-road motorbike and subsequently damaged a police motorcycle.

“We are taking this matter extremely seriously and we are determined to find all of those involved in this incident.

"The roads would have been busy at this time as it happened during rush hour traffic, so we are hoping that there are witnesses who are willing to come forward to help us identify those involved.

“If you captured anything on a dashcam, or witnessed it first hand, please come forward.

“I would also like to remind people that if you are aware of off-road bikes being used in your community, or know where they are being stored, let us know and we will take action.”

If you have any information about the suspected storage, possession and use of off-road bikes, please contact us directly via @MerPolCC on Twitter, 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook, by calling 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.