Darlington police seize motorcycles after crackdown on illegal riding
Police have seized a number of vehicles in Darlington after conducting an operation targeting dangerous vehicles and troublesome drivers over several days.
The Darlington Neighborhood Policing Team, with the support of Durham Constabulary’s Roads and Armed Police Units, conducted the special operation to target hotspot areas for anti-social road use.
Officers used e-bikes to patrol hotspot areas and used their drone to investigate reports of anti-social driving.
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Officers used powers including issuing Traffic Alert 183, which is effectively a first warning to road users that further disruptive driving will result in a vehicle impound, and Section 59 powers, which give officers the power to remove vehicles from the road without prior warning Street to take in certain parts of the city.
Results included:
- Honda 125 motorcycle impounded after moving away from officers on Corporation Road. The bike was dumped nearby and the rider was located by street cops. A 15-year-old boy was then arrested on suspicion of driving without a license and insurance
- The motorbike was confiscated at an address in Newton Aycliffe after information was received that it had been seen in an incident involving several vehicles speeding in Feethams multi-storey car park in Darlington on Thursday evening (26 January). The rider had already been issued a 183 traffic warning back in November, which meant the bike would be confiscated if the bike or the rider was involved in further anti-social driving. Several other vehicles involved in the incident have also been identified by officers and investigations are ongoing to locate the owners
- Traffic 183 warning notice to a man using an off-road bicycle on private farmland off Staindrop Road near Branksome. The driver claimed the landowner had given him permission to ride there, but checks by officials revealed no permission had ever been granted
- Ford Fiesta impounded after being anti-socially driven in a designated Section 59 area in Morton Park
- Traffic Alert 183 to two vehicles recently seen making donuts in Feethams multi-storey car park
- Traffic 183 warning to electric scooter driver in Minors Crescent
Sergeant Paul Vardy, of the Darlington Neighborhood Police Team, said: “We know the frustration that troublesome bikers and drivers cause in our communities, which is why we are working hard to address it.
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“Through Operation Endurance, we are constantly gathering and monitoring information about these people so we can take action to disrupt them and put a stop to their crimes.
“If you have any information about nuisance bikers in your area, let us know – we will take action, as this operation has shown.”
Information can be emailed to [email protected] or reported online.
