Northumbria Police and Sunderland City Council join forces to clamp down on nuisance motorcyclists

Officers from Northumbria Police have teamed up with Sunderland City Council to tackle off-road riders who have been putting members of the public at risk in the Ryhope and Doxford areas of the city.

There have been reports of irresponsible riders tearing along public and cycle paths, causing damage to public and private land.

As part of Operation Eagle, the council’s Area East Committee have paid £800 for a telephoto zoom lens which can help officers identify off-road bikers from a distance.

The new crackdown has already had an impact, with more than a dozen riders identified, eight Section 59 warning notices handed out and one motorbike seized by police.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Craig Sherriff, who is overseeing the operation, has revealed there are some early “encouraging” results.

He said: “We understand the significant and corrosive impact that anti-social behaviour can have on the communities we serve, and that’s why we’re working closely with the council to tackle motorcycle disorder across the city.

"The long lens camera provided by the council is allowing officers to get clear pictures of those involved in this type of disorder, and these can be used as irrefutable evidence that allows us to seize bikes and deal with riders appropriately.

"Uniformed and plain-clothed officers are carrying out dedicated patrols in hotspot areas as part of Operation Eagle, and we’ve already had some encouraging results."

The chair of the East Area Committee and Doxford ward councillor, Councillor Elizabeth Gibson, has also welcomed the new initiative.

She added: "We are a city council that works in partnership and here, between the police and information from residents, we're all working together to tackle these noisy and nuisance off-road motorcyclists.

"These riders are not welcome on our footpaths, on our cycle paths, or in our neighbourhoods.

"If you want to go off-roading on a motorbike you need to find a club or somewhere it is legal.

"The vast majority of people want the best for our city and motorcycle anti-social behaviour is not welcome in Sunderland."

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