Police seize off-road bikes being ridden anti-socially and cannabis after Binley Woods operation - The Coventry Observer

Police seize off-road bikes being ridden anti-socially and cannabis after Binley Woods operation

Coventry Editorial 12th Feb, 2022   0

A PRE-PLANNED operation has seen three off-road scramblers seized and two men reported for careless driving, riding with no insurance and having no driving licence.

During the operation, around the Tollbar and A46 area, officers received reports of 10 bikers riding around TGI island and in the roadworks at 3.20pm.

Officers from the Operational Patrol Unit attended and, with the assistance of the National Police helicopter (NPAS), detained a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old – both from Coventry who were intercepted coming out of the woods at the back of Starbucks in Binley Woods.

Two off-road motorcycles were recovered and the riders are now facing court action.




NPAS and units from Warwickshire Police and West Midlands Police followed another biker for nearly two hours during which time a stinger was successfully deployed.


However the search was called off before the rider could be spoken to due to darkness and the safety of the rider who had no lights on. His rucksack was recovered and a small quantity of what was believed to be cannabis was seized.

During the operation police also recovered a Yamaha MT07 motorcycle that had been reported stolen from Leicestershire.

Officers spoke to the rider of a second suspected Stolen Yamaha R1 and after checks were completed it was established the bike had been recovered a few days after it had also been stolen.

Insp Jem Mountford, from Warwickshire Police, said “The operation was put in place due to the behaviour of a small minority of off road bike riders who are putting the public in danger as well as themselves and this is our primary concern.

“We will continue to target the suspected illegal and anti-social use of off-road bikers in the Binley Woods area and arrest riders and seize any bikes ridden with no insurance.

“Riding unregistered off-road bikes on public roads is illegal because they can only be ridden on private land with the landowner’s permission.

“They are not insured to drive on public roads and will also not be taxed.

“Each year, thousands of people are injured or killed by uninsured drivers and without the correct insurance their compensation comes from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.

“This bill is paid for through the insurance premiums of all law abiding motorists.

“We will seize their bikes and take riders to court.”

Police are reviewing dashcam footage and liaising with West Midlands Police as part of their investigation into the incident.

Police are also appealing to the public to help them identify those involved so that they can be removed from the roads.

Anyone who saw riders on unregistered off-road bikes or quad bikes on February 6 should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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