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Cops take to off-road bikes to tackle quad offenders

November 24, 2016 22:26
Two of the helmeted police quad-bike riders ready for action in north Manchester

ByJonathan Kalmus, Jonathan Kalmus

1 min read

Police in north Manchester are to mount quad bikes in an operation to tackle anti-social behaviour in Jewish neighbourhoods in Prestwich and Whitefield, but have been told they cannot use them to chase offenders.

Local residents raised concerns at community police meetings about youths illegally riding off-road vehicles in parks and roads. Quad bikes have also been roaring through quiet Jewish neighbourhoods on Saturdays, as Shabbat observance makes residential roads relatively traffic-free.

In the new scheme, codenamed Operation Darch, two police quad bikes will patrol off-road hotspots including the Ringley Road area of Whitefield, Philips Park and Prestwich Clough. But a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said that while officers had the power to stop riders without proper tax and insurance, issue a court summons and seize their vehicles, they would not be able to use the off-road vehicles to chase offenders - because it is too dangerous.

The spokesman said: "Children have been killed in the jurisdiction of other police forces by being chased on quad bikes. They are to be used as an engagement tool. The idea is to engage with people, using the quad bikes to highlight the dangers of what they are doing."