Housing association goes off road to stop ASB

Published by Richard Lord for Wakefield & District Housing in Housing and also in Communities, Environment, Local Government

Wakefield District Police and Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) are setting up a new team to slam the brakes on off-road motorcycle rogues.

The team, along with their new off-road motorcycles sponsored byWDH, will take to the roads immediately in a new unit named Operation Matrix.

They will operate from Castleford Police Station covering WDH estates and the district and will deal with anti-social behaviour caused by motor vehicles – in particular the illegal use of motorcycles in off-road settings.

The team is staffed with two full-time riders and supported by two more trained neighbourhood policing officers.

Inspector Dick Jones of Wakefield District Police said: "The Community Safety Partnership reviewed how we deal with anti-social behaviour caused by off-road motorcyclists. We remain committed to dealing with this issue by working together in the most cost efficient way.

“I am absolutely delighted that once again our partnership can provide solutions to problems that deeply affect people in the Wakefield district."

Wakefield District Police, along with the local council, deal with more than two thousand calls a year of vehicle related anti-social behaviour, much of which relates to motorcycles being ridden in an illegal and inconsiderate manner. It is also an issue which is regularly raised by the public in contact with their Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

The new team will use criminal intelligence and a much wider range of powers than before to firstly warn drivers and then seize vehicles of those who ignore the warnings.

Inspector Jones added: "We have changed the focus of the team so that they will not just concentrate on anti-social behaviour hot spots, but they will also take a very firm line with offenders they identify, using the full range of traffic laws to prosecute them. We will seek anti-social behaviour orders against the more persistent offenders.

“This is also an activity which drives the theft of road bikes to strip down and use illegally off road. Operation Matrix will forensically identify stolen bikes and will arrest and prosecute the thieves and handlers of stolen vehicles. I want residents across the district to know that they can report these issues with confidence and know that we will try and tackle it."

Richard Forster, WDH Service Director - Neighbourhoods said: "WDH fully understands the problems associated with the illegal use of motorbikes and is very pleased to support the police in targeted action against those responsible.

“Tenants and residents do regularly express concern over the nuisance and annoyance caused by this type of anti-social behaviour and we are confident that our support to this initiative will go a long way towards improving the quality of life for Wakefield residents as well as help to effectively deal with those responsible."

Anyone who knows of a problem with motorcycles in their community is asked to contact their local NPT via 0845 6060606 to report the matter and help the police in their fight against anti-social behaviour.