Key Points
- The Oldham Neighbourhood Team has carried out proactive activities that deal with the problem of antisocial behaviour involving off-road bikes, e-bikes and quad bikes.
- This problem has been brought up by residents over the last few months, with reports increasing constantly.
- Since July and continuing in August, the Officers have cooperated with Specialist Operations, the Roads Policing Unit and the Drone Unit.
- The activity is part of the Operation Hurricane – the coordinated effort within Greater Manchester to tackle the dangerous and antisocial use of bikes.
- In August, officers stopped 64 vehicles and gave 7 warnings.
- In total, 30 Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) were given.
- There were 14 seizures of vehicles and 2 people were reported for summons.
- 6 arrests were made; there were 4 arrests for drug driving, 1 arrest for dangerous driving and 1 arrest for theft of a motor vehicle.
- There were 2 successful stop and searches, where drugs were discovered.
- 2 community resolutions were issued.
- Police Sergeant Tom Layton pointed out the danger that these vehicles cause to pedestrians, cyclists and other users of the roads.
- It is recommended for residents to contact the police using 101, the website or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555
Oldham (Manchester Mirror) August 20, 2026 – The Neighbourhood Team has continued its proactive work tackling the anti-social use of off-road bikes, e-bikes and quad bikes, one of a number of issues officers are addressing across the borough to keep communities safe.
Neighbourhood officers work closely with residents, partners and specialist policing teams every day to identify and tackle the concerns that matter most to local people. In recent months, the misuse of off-road bikes, e-bikes and quad bikes has been repeatedly raised by residents as a growing concern in uk/local/oldham/">Oldham. Working alongside Specialist Operations, Roads Policing Unit officers and the Drone Unit since July, officers have maintained a strong focus on this issue throughout August as part of Operation Hurricane, a coordinated Greater Manchester-wide initiative aimed at reducing the dangerous and anti-social use of bikes.
The misuse of these vehicles poses a serious risk to both riders and members of the public. They are often ridden at high speeds through parks, footpaths, residential streets and other areas not designed for motorised vehicles, where pedestrians, families and other road users may be present. Their use can increase the risk of collisions and serious injury, while the noise and disruption they cause can also have a significant impact on people’s quality of life and feelings of safety within their neighbourhoods.
As a result of targeted activity carried out during August, the Oldham Neighbourhood Team has achieved the following results so far: 64 vehicles stopped, seven warnings issued, 30 Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) issued, 14 vehicles seized, two individuals reported for summons, six arrests including four for drug driving, one for dangerous driving and one for theft of a motor vehicle, two successful stop and searches conducted locating drugs, and two community resolutions issued.
What Did Police Sergeant Tom Layton Say About the Crackdown?
Police Sergeant Tom Layton from the Oldham Neighbourhood Team said: “Neighbourhood policing is all about being visible, listening to the concerns of local people and taking action on the issues that have the biggest impact on communities. Tackling the anti-social use of off-road bikes, e-bikes and quad bikes is just one part of the work we are doing to keep Oldham’s communities safe.”
He added: “These vehicles can be extremely dangerous when used irresponsibly. They are often ridden in places where people simply do not expect to encounter a motorbike or quad bike, creating obvious risks for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. A split-second decision can have serious consequences.”
Sergeant Layton continued: “The results we’ve achieved reflect the hard work and commitment of officers from across the neighbourhood team and our specialist colleagues. We will continue to take positive action against those who use these vehicles illegally or anti-socially. We are grateful for the support we receive from residents. The information they provide helps us build a clearer picture of what’s happening in their communities and allows us to target our activity where it can make the biggest difference.”
Why Are Off-Road Bikes a Concern in Oldham?
The repeated misuse of off-road bikes, e-bikes and quad bikes has emerged as one of the most frequently cited concerns among residents in Oldham. According to the Oldham Neighbourhood Team, these vehicles are frequently ridden at high speeds through parks, footpaths, residential streets and other areas not designed for motorised vehicles, where pedestrians, families and other road users may be present. The force has highlighted that such use can increase the risk of collisions and serious injury, while the noise and disruption caused can have a significant impact on people’s quality of life and their feelings of safety within their neighbourhoods.
How Is Operation Hurricane Coordinated Across Greater Manchester?
Operation Hurricane is a coordinated Greater Manchester-wide initiative aimed at reducing the dangerous and anti-social use of bikes. In Oldham, the neighbourhood team has been working alongside Specialist Operations, Roads Policing Unit officers and the Drone Unit since July, maintaining a strong focus on the issue throughout August. The operation draws together specialist policing teams and neighbourhood officers who work closely with residents and partners to identify and tackle the concerns that matter most to local people.
What Results Have Officers Achieved in August?
The targeted activity carried out during August has produced a detailed set of results for the Oldham Neighbourhood Team. Officers stopped 64 vehicles and issued seven warnings. A total of 30 Traffic Offence Reports were issued and 14 vehicles were seized. Two individuals were reported for summons. Six arrests were made, including four for drug driving, one for dangerous driving and one for theft of a motor vehicle. Two successful stop and searches were conducted, locating drugs, and two community resolutions were issued.
How Can Residents Report Anti-Social Bike Use?
Anyone with information about the anti-social use of off-road bikes, e-bikes or quad bikes is encouraged to report it to Greater Manchester Police via 101, online, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Sergeant Layton emphasised that information provided by residents helps officers build a clearer picture of what is happening in their communities and allows them to target activity where it can make the biggest difference.
Background
The issue of anti-social off-road bike, e-bike and quad bike use has become a recurring theme in neighbourhood policing across Greater Manchester in recent years. Such vehicles are often ridden at high speeds through parks, footpaths, residential streets and other areas not designed for motorised vehicles, where pedestrians, families and other road users may be present. Police forces across the region have repeatedly highlighted the risk of collisions and serious injury, as well as the impact of noise and disruption on residents’ quality of life and feelings of safety. The Oldham Neighbourhood Team’s work is part of this wider context, with Operation Hurricane serving as a coordinated Greater Manchester-wide initiative aimed at reducing the dangerous and anti-social use of bikes. The neighbourhood team has been working alongside Specialist Operations, Roads Policing Unit officers and the Drone Unit since July, maintaining a strong focus on the issue throughout August.
Prediction
For residents of Oldham, the continuation of this targeted activity is likely to bring a measurable improvement in feelings of safety within their neighbourhoods. The seizure of 14 vehicles and the issuing of 30 Traffic Offence Reports signal that officers are taking consistent, visible enforcement action against those who use these vehicles illegally or anti-socially. For riders and vehicle owners, the increased likelihood of vehicles being stopped, seized or reported means that the risks of prosecution, including arrest for drug driving, dangerous driving or theft of a motor vehicle, are now more pronounced. For pedestrians, cyclists and families using parks, footpaths and residential streets, the sustained focus through Operation Hurricane is expected to reduce the presence of high-speed motorised vehicles in areas not designed for them, thereby lowering the risk of collisions and serious injury. The force has indicated it will continue to take positive action, and the support of residents in reporting concerns is likely to shape where future enforcement is directed, potentially extending the operation’s reach across other parts of the borough.
