Following an increase in stolen motorbikes that are then ridden inappropriately across the city, often in greenspaces causing a nuisance, residents are being warned they could be in breach of their tenancy.

In the past year 13 arrests have been made including the issuing of a closure order at one address.

In recent weeks it was discovered a Stoke-on-Trent City Council tenant had two stolen bikes recovered at their address in the north of the city and they have been served with a tenancy breach letter. In the south of the city three stolen bikes have been recovered, and due to this and other associated anti-social behaviour and crime that has taken place a closure order was granted.

Operation Alcaic has dedicated officers in both regions of the city. Members of the public can report intelligence though a dedicated email address. This data is then reviewed by the ASB team and then passed on to police.

However, council tenants are being warned that nuisance behaviour could result in a breach of tenancy which could lead to being thrown out of their home for repeat ASB issues. Speaking previously Councillor David Williams, Cabinet member for Community Safety and Resilience said: "This kind of behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated, and action will be taken in support of residents and communities." 

One of the major difficulties in catching nuisance bikers is that once it has been reported and police have been mobilised the offender has often moved or the police face difficulty in chasing the suspect as it can often be dangerous. Investment in officers on off road motorbikes, ANPR and drone capability has led to arrests and disruption.

Officers from the community safety team have also been walking the green routes where there are hotspots on nuisance bikers. A community safety team officer said: "It is very difficult to chase them around if they are on bikes.

"What we would like to achieve is to understand where they are storing the bikes, the police are recovering a lot of bikes but most of them are unfortunately in waste ground, hidden in bushes, stuff like that. If we could find out where they are being stored at the address that enables us to take action against the individuals concerned."

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