Complaints from residents have led to direct action that has taken four nuisance motorbikes off the road.
Reports of nuisance bikes in the Lindisfarne Road and Hexham Green areas of East Middlesbrough resulted in a joint operation between Cleveland Police, Middlesbrough Council and Thirteen.
The Council’s Neighbourhood Safety Team had monitored the area following the complaints and two properties linked to the motorbikes were identified.
The operation, in the Park End and Beckfield ward, saw the four bikes seized after reports of bikes being ridden at speed along pavements close to homes and across small grassed areas where young children were playing.
Police were able to identify that some of the bikes at the properties had been ridden in an anti-social manner on two separate occasions.
Cllr Janet Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for Community Safety, said: “These bikes are causing a real nuisance and pose a genuine danger to people trying to go about their daily lives.
“These actions won’t be tolerated by police or Council staff. I’d like to thank everyone in the area who has reported the issues. Without the intelligence they offered we wouldn’t have been in a position to take action.”
Middlesbrough Police’s Neighbourhoods Chief Inspector, Nigel Burnell said: “I’m proud of the work our neighbourhood teams carry out on a regular basis, such as foot patrols and the use of drones to gather evidence of those riding off-road bikes in our public spaces. We are working with our partners to prevent these harmful behaviours in the community.
“Any information from the public on who the riders are and where these bikes are being stored is welcomed and will be acted upon.”
Following the removal of the motorbikes further formal action will be considered such as tenancy warnings and applications for closure orders.
Other recent action from Middlesbrough Council to tackle off-road bikes has seen boulders – some weighing more than a tonne – used to restrict access to paths used as ‘rat-runs’.
Information on the issue of nuisance bikes can be reported to police via 101 or by emailing asbunit@middlesbrough.gov.uk.
Thursday’s seizures took place during Neighbourhood Policing Week which has seen Cleveland Police work with partners on a range of issues.