Focus on Anti-Social Behaviour
Tackling the Scourge of Illegal Off-Road Bikes: ‘Operation Endurance’.
In recent years, the menace of illegal off-road bikes has plagued communities across County Durham and Darlington. These reckless riders tear through neighbourhoods, endangering lives, damaging public spaces, and causing harassment, alarm and distress to law-abiding residents. However, with my backing, Durham Constabulary’s Operation Endurance is fighting back with the vital support and help of communities and partners.
The statistics speak for themselves: 64% of reported incidents involving these bikes are categorised as antisocial nuisance, while 34% relate to environmental concerns, and 2% involve personal issues. The majority of offenders fall within the age range of 13 to 19 years old. As we saw earlier this month, officers seized the bike being ridden by a 14 year old and the rider was reported for driving offences. The message is “if you can’t legally ride one, then don’t purchase one in the first place.”
Last year, the Force introduced a pioneering new initiative to ensure anyone caught riding an off-road bike, quad or 4×4, illegally faced immediate consequences. With funding from my office, this initiative is now being rolled out across the Force area, enabling officers to seize bikes on the spot. This swift and decisive action sends a clear message to nuisance riders: Durham is no place for illegal off-road biking.
However, the success of Operation Endurance hinges on community involvement. Residents play a crucial role by reporting incidents as they happen. I’d like to urge residents to share vital information about where these bikes are being stored and who is riding them illegally. By working together, we can identify offenders and enable officers to take robust enforcement action.
But, Operation Endurance doesn’t stop at seizures. The police are taking a bold step by crushing confiscated bikes. This not only prevents their resale but also sends a powerful message that illegal behaviour won’t be tolerated.
As your Police and Crime Commissioner, I am determined to give our officers the necessary tools they need to enable them to tackle this issue effectively. Investment in drones and long-range cameras is helping officers to monitor and track illegal off-road activities as well as identifying riders and hot spot locations.
Riding off-road bikes on public land (such as parks, footpaths or bridleways) without proper authorisation is illegal, and dangerous driving or careless driving can lead to criminal charges.
So, if you know where these bikes are hidden/stored or who is riding them illegally, don’t hesitate to call 101 or email opendurance@durham.police.uk and share vital community intelligence. Let’s work together to keep our communities safe, stronger and more resilient to crime and anti-social behaviour and free from the reckless roar of illegal off-road bikes.
Let’s work together to make our communities safer and put an end to illegally driven off-road bikes.