THREE motorbikes including two mini motos have been seized and could be crushed following an operation to tackle anti-social behaviour. The operation, the first of several planned through the year, saw police motorcyclists backed up by uniformed and plai

THREE motorbikes including two mini motos have been seized and could be crushed following an operation to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The operation, the first of several planned through the year, saw police motorcyclists backed up by uniformed and plain clothes police officers out in force across Stevenage on Tuesday last week.

There was no escape for offenders as the motorcycle cops were on marked scramble bikes capable of going anywhere.

Two of the bikes seized for the riders having no insurance were in Fairlands Valley Park and the other in St Nicholas Park.

Each of the bikes, one of them worth £3,000, was taken to a secure compound and the riders have seven working days to prove they have the necessary insurance or hold an appropriate licence.

The owner will also have to pay the £105 recovery charge and the additional £12 a day storage charge. If the owners do not produce the relevant documents within 14 days the vehicle can be destroyed.

Fixed penalty notices for £80 were issued for disorder and all three riders were issued with Section 59 (Police Reform Act 2002) warnings advising them that if they ride another vehicle anti-socially then that vehicle will be seized too.

Sgt Jason Thorne, from the Stevenage community team said: "We have always taken a tough stance against people who ride their motorcycles on private property without permission of the owner or on the road, on a pavement or in a park without proper insurance and registration documents.

"We continue to seek the support of the public in supplying us with information about anti-social behaviour involving vehicles which assists us in issuing the notices to the riders and seizing the vehicles of those who do not heed the warning they are given.

"If anyone has any complaints about the use of these vehicles they should inform police who is riding them, the registration number of the vehicle, a description of the vehicle, clothing of the rider including their head gear and the location where they are being ridden. The only place that a mini moto can be ridden legally is on private property with the owner's permission."

Anyone with information should call the police non-emergency number 0845 33 00 222.