Cardiff Council and South Wales Police once again joined forces at the weekend to tackle off-road bikes in Cardiff.
(c) South Wales Police
Four off-road vehicles were seized as part of the operation and all of the bikes will be crushed and recycled unless the owners claim their vehicle back with the correct paperwork and insurance details.
Three off-road vehicles were confiscated from Rover Way Travellers Site as they had been abandoned on the Coastal Path. The vehicles were found following a pursuit of one of the quads into the site which was eventually seized.
Elsewhere in the city, a black Detroit pit bike was spotted on Coryton roundabout which officers stopped and seized and a 30-year-old man from Thornhill was arrested by the South Wales Police on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drugs. He has been released under investigation pending the result of blood analysis.
Cllr Michael Michael, Cabinet Member for Clean Streets, Environment and Recycling said:
“The number of people in communities across the city who complain to me about these bikes and quads being ridden over park land and on the city’s roads is increasing.
“This is why we are working with the South Wales Police on this matter and our operations will continue to try to remove as many of these vehicles as possible.
“These bikes can be used on private land with the permission of the landowner or at any registered track. What is not allowed is to drive them on council land, often being driven dangerously at speed which puts other park users and road users at risk.”
Pc Martin Baggett from South Wales Police said:
(c) South Wales Police
“We know that off-road bikes are a concern for the community and Operation Red Mana is a policing operation dedicated to tackling the issue.
“Such use of off-road bikes is not only against road traffic regulations but is also extremely dangerous.
“Our concerns are that someone could be hurt by these bikes which are being ridden at high-speed and also the noise which is damaging quality of life for residents.
“We would also remind parents of their responsibilities in relation to their children using off-road bikes. The last thing anyone wants is for us to be called to the scene of a collision where someone has been hurt or worse.”
The Road Traffic Act allows police to seize such uninsured vehicles and those being driven without a licence.
(c) South Wales Police
Section 59 of the Road Traffic Act. Section 59 allows the police to give drivers a warning if they are reported to have used their vehicle in a manner which causes “alarm, distress or annoyance”.
Offenders also risk losing their homes as anti-social and illegal behaviour could see them in breach of their tenancy agreement with the local authority or housing association.
We would encourage the public to report any general information regarding the illegal use of off-road bikes by e-mailing opredmana@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
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