Doncaster East Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) are urging the public to continue to help them in their pursuit of illegal off-road bikes as they utilise an array of tactics to seize vehicles and arrest reckless riders.

Over the past few weeks, neighbourhood officers in Doncaster East have been seizing more and more illegal off-road bikes, with the number of reports of this kind of anti-social behaviour increasing as we head into the summer months.

On 3 May, officers patrolling around Unity Way in Hatfield and Dunscroft apprehended a 13-year-old passenger riding illegally on a farmer's field on a stolen motorbike.

Officers reacted quickly by using a drone to track his movements, ensuring that he wasn't able to flee the scene.

Just over a week later on Monday 12 May, officer patrols around the Fiddlers Estate in Armthorpe led to them recovering a motorbike stolen during a burglary in Edlington just a few days prior.

Both motorbikes have since been returned to their rightful owners.

Police have been seizing stolen motorbikes in Doncaster

Using off-road bikes, including quad bikes, trail bikes and motorbikes, in public parks or on publicly-owned land without permission from the landowner or local authority is strictly forbidden.

Patrol plans have been devised to target numerous areas across the Doncaster East NPT area, with one of those Quarry Park in Dunscroft, which was identified as a hotspot for off-road bikes.

Explaining more is Doncaster East NPT Inspector Alison Carr:

"Quarry Park is incredibly vast and has numerous entrances and exits, meaning it can be easily accessed at multiple points.

"Following reports of off-road bikes in this spot and concerns raised by members of the public, we have worked with partners, including City of Doncaster Council, to block vehicle access at multiple entrances and exits, with barriers also installed.

This stolen motorbike was seized by a Doncaster East NPT officer

"We continue to work alongside partners and with our dedicated Motorcycle and Rural Crime Team and the National Police Air Service to patrol the area, with drones also used to identify riders.

"However, the best way we can tackle this issue and really put a stop to off-road bikers in this area and other parts of Doncaster East is through your intelligence and information.

"We know just how damaging this kind of anti-social behaviour is and that is why we've made it a priority to combat it this summer with more proactive patrols, more partnership working and more resources ploughed into tackling this criminality.

"But we need the public's support and information in helping us to identify the riders, the bikes they are riding and the locations where the bikes are being stored.

Police have seized stolen motorbikes being ridden illegally in the Doncaster East NPT area this month

"Adults and children alike should be allowed to enjoy their local parks and fields this summer without coming face to face with dangerous off-road bikers.

"They leave a trail of destruction and off-road bikes not only put the rider and any passengers in danger, but also innocent people going about their daily business.

"It is completely unacceptable and we will continue to target those making other people's lives a misery through this reckless behaviour."