POLICE have seized an off-road motorbike after receiving reports of it being ridden illegally in Tidworth and Ludgershall.

Officers from Wiltshire Police’s road policing unit and special road safety unit have been working with neighbourhood officers to tackle the issue which they say has been causing a “nuisance”.

An off-road bike was seized by officers on Friday (September 12) and the rider will be prosecuted for driving offences.

The bike will be destroyed.

“We know that these bikes are often shared or swapped between riders, so our teams will continue to take action against anyone caught riding them illegally, regardless of ownership,” a police spokesperson said.

The force said riding motorcycles on pathways, in parks, or in other public spaces is not only unlawful but also dangerous.

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Riders often lack protective gear, ride recklessly, and put both themselves and pedestrians at serious risk of harm.

Neighbourhood Inspector Gavin Brewster said: “I want to reassure the community that when we receive reports of this behaviour, we will act.

“Working alongside our specialist operations units, we will robustly deal with anyone riding illegally and in an anti-social manner.

“This can result in vehicles being seized and crushed, alongside prosecutions for document offences, and even careless or dangerous riding charges.

“Offenders risk disqualification from driving before they have even obtained their licence.”

The public are being asked to keep their eyes peeled for any similar incidents.

“Together, we can reduce the risk to the public, hold offenders to account and prevent further incidents from happening,” Inspector Brewster added.

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