Police arrest off road biker after plane locates rider in Tyldesley

As reported by the Journal, a National Police Air Service plane flew over the area for more than an hour on Sunday, July 7, after reports that off-road bikers were committing anti-social behaviour.

The use of specialist officers is part of a new operation to tackle the growing problems with off-road bikers and anti-social behaviour, and although it was initially believed that no arrests were made, police have now confirmed that a man in his 20s was located and arrested.

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The rider was caught driving down footpaths and trying to evade police (Image: GMP)
With a new strategy devised to highlight anti-social behaviour hotpots and high-risk routes, specialist officers from the Roads Policing Unit, Drone and Motorcycle Unit and the National Police Air Service will also be deployed in the new operation.

On Sunday, officers from the National Police Air Service alerted GMP to an off-road biker being driven down footpaths and into oncoming traffic.

The biker tried to evade police by mounting pavements, driving down the wrong side of main rounds and running red lights, but the police plane continued to track the rider until he locked it up at an address off Elliot Street in Tyldesley.

The police plane was able to direct officers to the rider's location (Image: GMP)
Neighbourhood officers were then able to quickly swoop on the suspect, who was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop, no license and no insurance.

He has been bailed pending further enquiries, while the off-road bike has been seized in the process.

The man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving (Image: GMP)
Sergeant Dan Canavan from GMP's Wigan district said: “We have made a commitment to the people of Greater Manchester that we will be dealing with anyone who causes any form of anti-social behaviour while riding motorbikes, e-bikes and quadbikes.

“In Wigan, we have listened to the concerns of the local community and we are taking robust action against those who think they can continue to break the law.

“We are using every tool at our disposal under a new operation that was launched in mid-June, we have a lot more to come and we will continue to tackle anti-social behaviour in every way that we can.

“I would continue to urge the community to report any incidents of this nature to us, and as we have shown, we will do all we can to apprehend any suspect.”