Police gear up with new off-road motorcycle team to tackle anti-social behaviour and rural crime

Police have launched an off-road motorcycle team to help tackle anti-social behaviour and rural crime across the Thames Valley.

New all-terrain motorcycles have been provided to officers as part of Operation Trail, in a bid to catch offenders who travel into areas difficult to reach by car.

In addition to helping to catch those riding quadbikes and motorbikes on parkland and estates, the new scheme will also help police in searches for vulnerable people.

The bikes have been funded through a Roads Safety Initiative supported by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Inspector Scott Long, of Thames Valley Police & Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, Joint Operations Unit, said: “Operation Trail is a new initiative which will support Neighbourhood Policing and the Rural Crime Team tackling criminals who target rural areas.

“It will also enhance our capability when searching for vulnerable people on open land and provide visible reassurance to communities not normally accessible to traditional police vehicles.

“We will also be deploying the bikes to areas that suffer from anti-social behaviour and will be able to tackle the illegal use of off-road bikes.

“We know that anti-social use of vehicles can cause misery and danger to communities and we now have the capability to go off road and target those using vehicles illegally.

“We all have a part to play in keeping our roads, communities and green areas safe so please continue to provide us with information so that we can target the right areas and make the Thames Valley safer.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, said: “The new team of off-road motorcycles will help our drive to tackle anti-social behaviour in the Thames Valley.

“The team will support our growing number of neighbourhood police officers by tackling crime in often hard-to-reach areas and apprehending those causing anti-social behaviour riding quad bikes and motorbikes. 

“I look forward to seeing the positive actions of the new off-road motorcycle team, and the impact their work has on reducing anti-social behaviour for residents within our communities.”

Launching Operation Trail!

Say to our new off-road motorcycle team! ️

Thanks to the Roads Safety Initiative, supported by the PCC, our officers are on a mission to tackle anti-social behaviour & crime across the force, working alongside neighbourhood policing teams pic.twitter.com/0lmb71P6oB

— Thames Valley Police (@ThamesVP) December 1, 2023