Tri-force operation targets anti-social motorcycle activity

On the closing day of the national ‘2Wheel’ campaign, launched to improve safety for riders on two wheels, Cheshire Constabulary, Derbyshire Constabulary, and Staffordshire Police recently joined forces to tackle on and off-road motorcycle activity causing a nuisance to local and rural communities.

As April is considered to be the beginning of the motorcycle season, with the better weather and easing of restrictions, there has been an increase in bikers taking to our roads and a raise in community nuisance concerns.

The eight-hour operation began from the Cat and Fiddle Inn on the A537 and went on to target routes with the highest harm statistics where, sadly, riders have been either killed or seriously injured in collisions.

This high visibility operation is the latest in a number of patrols by officers, where the key aim is to educate and engage with riders on our counties most popular roads, to protect both riders and other road users.

Over the course of this joint operation, top offences included numerous dangerous driving offences or driving without due care, poor vehicle roadworthiness, riding at excess speeds, lack of insurance, various number plate offences and recovery of a stolen bike that failed to stop for police.

Sergeant Andy Griffiths, lead on the operation for Cheshire Constabulary, said: “Road safety is really important to our communities and is often a source of complaint when speeding motorcyclists use the roads as a racetrack. Not only is this reckless riding dangerous to the rider themselves, as they are not in a position to deal with any last second hazards, it also puts innocent road users lives at risk.

“We’re proud of our county, our amazing roads and the beautiful green spaces that it provides, and we know how important it is to the residents of Cheshire, particularly in our rural communities, to protect these areas and combat anti-social road use.  

“We will continue to do all we can to educate and encourage motorcyclists to ride safely throughout this seasonal operation, but I hope the activity at the weekend sends a strong message that we will not hesitate to act against those individuals set on flouting the rules of the road who think the law doesn’t apply to them.

“We want bikers to enjoy their ride, this cannot be at the expense of other road users’ safety and this operation provided our officers with the perfect opportunity to go out and engage with the public, which received some really positive feedback from members of the local community, cyclists, motorcyclists and families out for day trips.

“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Derbyshire Constabulary and Staffordshire Police for their assistance in keeping our region safe.”