Two arrested and 10 vehicles seized during week-long police crackdown on scrambler bike crime in Wirral

Oct 24 2012 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

TWO teenagers were arrested and bikes and cars seized in a police crackdown on illegal scrambler bikes in Wirral.

Operation Brookdale focused on areas across Merseyside hit by crime and anti-social behaviour involving the bikes.

Merseyside Police said it was concerned scramblers increasingly appeared to be the transport of choice for those involved in gun crime.

The week-long operation also focused on education, with visits to schools to warn youngsters about the dangers of riding scrambler or quad bikes.

Across Wirral, Sefton, Liverpool and Knowsley, 23 scrambler bikes were confiscated, 20 people arrested and 12 charged with offences.

Although the crackdown focused on bikes, cars being driven without insurance were also seized in the borough as police enforced traffic laws.

In Wirral:

l A 17-year-old from Wallasey was arrested on suspicion of unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle and drink driving. He was bailed pending further inquiries.

l A 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle. He was later released on bail.

l Five motorcycles were seized – two Yamahas, a red Honda bike, black Aprila 50cc and a black Stomp scrambler.

l Five cars – a Renault Laguna, Citroen Picasso, Fiat Stilo, Peugeot Partner and Chevrolet Matiz were also seized for having no insurance.

Superintendent Paul White, who led the crackdown, said: “Merseyside Police will not tolerate the criminal, or anti-social use of scrambler or quad bikes.

“This year offenders have used scrambler bikes in 12 of the gun crime incidents we have had in Merseyside and more often than not when we recover scramblers used to commit a crime or anti-social behaviour the bike turns out to be stolen.

“We will not stand idly by and let these offenders think they can run amok in our communities.”