Jill Mortimer MP raised the local issue of off-road bikes to the Home Secretary, James Cleverly and Crime, Policing and Fire Minister Chris Philp.
Named a “growing plague across Hartlepool”, Jill Mortimer asked the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire to offer Cleveland Police more support to tackle off-road bikes.
An off-road bike is a motorised bike which is intended to be ridden off-road. They have been a growing issue across Teesside, and are an issue well monitored by Cleveland Police who have seized nearly 500 bikes over the last seven months.
Cleveland Police, under Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner, have created the COPA app. An anonymous tip-off service for residents to report sightings, or neighbours who are storing the bikes.
Today (Monday 27 November), Jill has called for support from the Home Office to help Cleveland Police Force to go beyond relying on residents' anonymous tip-off’s, and to deliver action to rid the bikes from the streets of Hartlepool for good.
In response, the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire, assured the Hartlepool MP that from April next year Cleveland Police Force, and other forces across the country, will receive significant funding commitments to conduct anti-social behaviour hotspot patrols.
These patrols will give the force more capacity for bobbies on the beat to put a stop to off-road bikes.
Speaking after the chamber, Jill Mortimer MP said:
“Everyday, residents across Hartlepool are faced with young people in balaclavas driving off-road bikes on our roads, with no regard for the highway code.
“They are dangerous, intimidating and yet to face consequences.
“I am pleased that the Conservative Government has committed to supporting our local police force to rid our roads of off-road bikes for good, with a considerable amount of funding.
“The Conservatives continue to be the party of law and order, and this will make an enormous difference to Hartlepool resident’s peaceful enjoyment of their lives and safety.”