A new specialist police bike unit dedicated to taking illegal riders off road, for good, is now hunting them down in streets and fields of Kirklees.

The new Kirklees Nuisance Anti-Social Behaviour Team has just begun operating across the district and has already begun seizing machines and responding to calls.

The six strong team is the first dedicated unit of its kind ever seen in Kirklees to combat illegal riders and wants to hear from residents who have issues in their communities.

Due to its specialist nature, bike cops have said their team will be able to deliver a new intensity and focus on illegal off road riders.

It will also make use of new tools and tactics to stop illegal bikers when appropriate, and also track them down for action if they are not caught in the act.

Specific days of action with neighbourhood policing teams and the force’s Roads Policing Unit are already being planned and work is ongoing with NPT colleagues on problem solving.

The team is also reviewing submitted footage of a number off road bike incidents in the District and working to ID suspects for police attention.

In its first few days of June operations the team seized six bikes for offending, and issued four section 59 warnings which notify riders their vehicles may be seized if they are seen being used anti socially.

Sergeant Shaun Oates, who leads the new team, said: “While we have had used off road bike patrols for several years in the district, those officers have also had other duties and never been full time in the role.

“The Nuisance ASB Team is the first dedicated unit of its kind we’ve had in Kirklees and allows us to operate with a new intensity and focus to invest time in communities which are having issues with off road riding.

“I can promise our policing will be robust and we are keen to both make a quick impact in communities and hear from residents within them.”

Chief Inspector Rebecca Calpin of Kirklees Police, said: “Anti-social and illegal riding is not tolerated in our communities and never has been. While we regularly have been prosecuting dangerous, riders having a dedicated unit only enhances our capabilities.”

She added: “I want to thank those residents who do submit information and footage of illegal riding and urge them to please continue doing so.

“Summer unfortunately, can see an increase in this offending and we want to make use of good intelligence to helps us better deploy our team where they are needed.