Crushing news for anti social bikers

Noisy and nuisance off-road bikes are being confiscated and crushed as part of a clamp-down in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot. Motorbikes and quads being used illegally or anti-socially are being targeted by The Rural and Forestry Team (RAFT) team following on-going complaints from residents.

PC Mark Davies, a RAFT team member, said: "Unlicensed riders and motorbikes can only be used on private land, which the rider either owns or has permission to ride on from the land owner. Riding anywhere else without having a driving license, insurance and a road legal motorbike or quad is against the law and we won’t hesitate to confiscate those bikes and prosecute the riders."

Police use powers under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 to issue warnings to riders found on common land, moorland, footpaths, restricted byways and bridleways or on land which does not form part of a road. This warning is placed against the driver and the vehicle and lasts for 12 months. If the driver or the vehicle that the warning is against is seen driving illegally or anti-socially again within that period of time, the vehicle can be seized. If the vehicle is not collected and recovery and storage costs paid by a certain date, it will be crushed.

Paul Lewis, Anti Social Behaviour Reduction Coordinator for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, said: "The vast majority of motorcycle riders behave in a responsible manner, but we do receive regular complaints from the public and landowners about the behaviour of a minority of riders who run the real risk of having their motorbikes confiscated and eventually crushed. “If those individuals continue to cause problems we won’t hesitate to deal with them via the anti-social behaviour legislation that is available to us.

RAFT was set up in 2008 and in that time has issued over 250 warnings to bikers. Over 30 bikes have been seized and half of those crushed.

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