Police are continuing to crackdown on off-road bikers as officers are given extra power to confiscate bikes.

Most recently a section 59 order has been placed on Longsight Park.

The park is now subject to a protection order of The Police Act from off road bikes. 

The Section 59 increases police powers to seize off-road and e-bikes where they are being driven off road or in public spaces.

The order also makes it an offence for a person to fail to stop a vehicle when required to do so by a police officer punishable by a fine of up to £1000.

Recently a man has been arrested after an off-road bike was seized in Bolton on Saturday.

Officers with Operation Hurricane saw an off-road bike being ridden along the pavement close to Seven Acres Country Park on Thicketford Road in Breightmet on Saturday afternoon.

Officers managed to stop the bike, before the rider ran off into the park. 

A 19-year-old was swiftly detailed and arrested for dangerous driving and having no insurance. 

The bike has been seized under section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (no insurance).

Forces across the UK confiscated 937 e-bikes in the year to August 11, according to Freedom of Information (FoI) figures obtained by the PA news agency.

That is compared with 511 during the previous 12 months.

Operation Hurricane is Greater Manchester Police's operation targeting the anti-social use of e-bikes, off road bikes and quad bikes. 

It has been running since June this year and plans to expand in October.

Operation Hurricane has resulted in the seizure of 38 vehicles since its launch across the Greater Manchester region and has issued 16 Section 59 orders as well as increasing police patrols.

Under UK law, e-bike motors must cut out when a speed of 15.5mph is reached.

It is also common for officers to find e-bikes that can be powered without the pedals being turned, effectively making them electric mopeds or motorbikes which must be registered and taxed.

READ MORE:

First people charged over riot sparked by e-bike crash deaths appear in court

Motorbike seized and man arrested by Bolton officers 

Conversion kits are available online for as little as £300.

Bolton Council’s Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Cllr Rabiya Jiva, said:

“The safety of our communities is of paramount importance, and we will not take the illegal use of e-bikes and off-road bikes lightly.

“The council will support our partners in tackling this issue and welcome the use of Section 59 as a deterrent for those breaking the rules.

“We want local areas to be safe for residents and visitors alike and positive steps like this help to move us in the right direction.”

Cllr Adele Warren, whose constituency currently implemented section 59 in Leverhulme Park and New House Farm said: "Unfortunately, unless you get the off road bike team, which we were unable to secure, the Section 59 is pretty much useless. 

"We're competing with the rest of Greater Manchester for the off road bike team because the Section 59 doesn't do much on its own.

"The Section 59 signs get cut down, its a tool but not as good without the backing of the team behind it. 

"Another big thing is educating parents, on some of our pitches children are unable to play football because they've been torn up by the bikes. 

"We need to educate people on the long-term effects of using e-bikes and off road bikes."

Cllr Jackie Scofield who holds a portfolio for community safety said: "I am delighted to have been able to support the implementation of the Section 59 initiative in Longsight Park, working alongside our partners in Greater Manchester Police, to combat problematic off-road bikes that have been causing damage to the park and surrounding areas and pose a health and safety risk.

"The problem was raised by residents and by the Friends of Longsight Park community group, with the help of the Community Safety team and Bolton Council we have been able to erect of section 59 signs in the park and consequently some bikes have been confiscated.

"I would like to thank Greater Manchester Police for their support with this and we continue to work in partnership to prevent these problems."