South Yorkshire Police has said the introduction of two new quad bikes into its motorcycle and rural crime team has seen a crackdown on rural crime.
The quad bikes were purchased as part of the funding from the Home Office’s ‘Hotspot Policing Response Model’, which sees a more problem-solving approach to policing.
The force said a large percentage of South Yorkshire’s communities are based in rural areas, with criminals using off-road tracks or fields to hide in a bid to lose officers in cars or on off-road bikes who may be pursuing them.
The new quad bikes introduced to the vehicles available to officers have been operational since May this year, and have resulted in a total number of 15 quad bikes being seized so far, the force said.
These were being used in illegal activity such as being driven without insurance or a licence, used to destroy farmer’s crops, stealing petrol, poaching and general anti-social behaviour.
Quad bikes
Insp Peter Heginbotham, who is part of South Yorkshire Police’s motorcycle and rural crime team said: “We are now seeing criminals turn to off-road and quad bikes more to commit crimes, as they are easy to steal and store in hidden places.
“In the past, these criminals would use fields and dirt tracks to try and get away from those who were pursing them as our standard vehicles cannot handle these terrains.
“However, with these new quad bikes, they can no longer get away from our drivers, who have been specially trained in these types of pursuits.”
Heginbotham said Souh Yorkshire Police has seen an increase in quad bike related crime in its rural communities, with many criminals crossing the borders to or from neighbouring forces, with many victims such as farm and land owners left to “clean the mess left behind and meet the cost of damage repairs”.
The quad bikes allow officers to carry equipment such as stingers, drones, throwlines and firesticks, so they are prepared for anything they may come across while on patrol.
They have also been used to recover stolen plants and seize trailers which are carrying equipment used to steal diesel.
Officers from the motorcycle and rural crime have also been working with storage owners in the local areas to identify key areas where stolen quad bikes are being kept.
Chief Insp John Mallows, who is the force lead for anti-social behaviour (ASB) said: “These quad bikes have come from our wider piece of work, looking at delivering targeted activity in key hotspot areas across the force that see higher levels of ASB and most serious violence, through problem solving policing.
“We have already started to see some great results from the introduction of these quad bikes and are beginning to receive positive feedback from members of the community in our rural areas, and we will continue to work with these communities to deliver plans to continue to reduce crime and keep our residents safe.”
