POLICE in the Thurrock area have seized four motorcycles in a crackdown on bikers riding them illegally in parks.
The motorcycles have been seized in Chadwell St Mary and East Tilbury by neighbourhood policing officers.
Inspector Tom Mitchell said: “We have seized four small off-road motorcycles and one small quad bike in these two areas in a week. The first seizure of two bikes was made in Heath Road, at Chadwell St Mary on Saturday 26 January and the second, of two motorcycles and a quad bike, was at Welland, in East Tilbury on Sunday 3 February. They were all seized after being ridden around open park areas.
The motorcycles seized include a blue Stomp Hustle, a black Taper Pro, a green and white Stomp Kayo, a black and orange KTM Disaster MX, and a blue and yellow Suzuki Quad.
Two of the bikes have been returned to their owners after they attended at a police station to provide proof of ownership and other documentation and paid a fee to recover the vehicles.
Inspector Mitchell added: “These bikes cannot be ridden on common land, moorland, land which is not part of the road, a footpath, bridleway, restricted byway or private land without the owner’s permission – as outlined within Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002.
“Not only is this illegal but it also causes a nuisance to other users of this land and there is an inherent danger in driving bikes across land in these areas where people are not expecting them. As such we will continue to deal with any anti-social behaviour like this robustly.”
Anyone who has any information in regards to nuisance riding of motorcycles or quad bikes can contact Essex Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
After years of lack of response from the Police in Chadwell St Mary, they have at last reacted forcefully to local residents pleases.
These illegal bikers have made law abiding citizens lives a misery, roaring about places such as Orsett Heath at night and early morning, with complete disregard for everyone else.
Lets hope that our few front line Police force can now control this very annoying social problem.