Bolton is in the top three for anti-social behaviour on motorbikes - including off-road bikes - of all the boroughs according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

Superintendent John-Paul Ruffle and Superintendent Gareth Parkin addressed the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) about the issue last week.

In Bolton, there were around 670 incidents of anti-social behaviour on motorbikes last year, up from around 570 incidents of anti-social behaviour on motorbikes in the previous year. The borough is in the top three behind Stockport (~950 incidents) and Wigan (~990 incidents) and the issue is on the increase in all the boroughs.

There are hotspots in Breightmet and Firwood Fold which, as well as other hotspots in Greater Manchester, are the target of an operation known as Operation Hurricane.

Superintendent Ruffle, of GMP's Prevention Branch, said: "There are lots of local pockets of response but it is lacking consistency and it is lacking a force-wide approach.

"There is investment into our specialist capability and the operation looks to draw down on our specialist capability to work at the local level which we have not historically."

ALSO READ: What do Andy Burnham's Bee Network ambitions mean?

Operation Hurricane was announced in mid-June and, as of mid-July, there were more than 10 arrests and more than 50 seizures in connection with anti-social behaviour.

The operation is able to access resources such as marked bikes, unmarked bikes and drones as well as resources from police partners at the National Police Air Service.

(Image: GMCA)

Superintendent Parkin, of GMP's Specialist Branch, said: "In 2010, we released our motorcycle team, but now we are recruiting into our motorcycle team. 

"By the end of the summer we will have two teams on any one day on this work."

ALSO READ: Bolton councillors clash over sale of site at Church Wharf.

Detective Chief Constable Terry Woods, second-in-command to Chief Constable Stephen Watson, was in attendance for the meeting at Friends Meeting House in the city centre last week.

He agreed with Superintendent Ruffle and Superintendent Parkin about the impact of "balaclava-clad bikers" on "community confidence" but sent a strongly-worded warning to these bikers.

DCC Woods said: "I think balaclava-clad bikers on the roads of Greater Manchester are one of the worst things for community confidence and we are determined to sort it.

"GMP lost its capability but this is now in place so for those who think we do not have the capability to tackle you, we do have the capability to tackle you, and we are doing."

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or the LiveChat on gmp.police.uk.

They can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.