Operation Brookdale - four quad bikes and scrambler bike seized following reports of ASB in Maghull

Officers in Sefton have seized four quad bikes and a scrambler bike following reports of anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving in Maghull on Sunday, 27 January.

At around midday, a call came in from the public reporting that quad bikes were being ridden around wasteland in Sefton Industrial Estate on Sefton Lane, including sightings of children believed to be as young as 12 riding the vehicles. A later report indicated that quad bikes had also been seen on Sefton Lane, opposite a garden centre.

Patrols carried out enquiries and found the bikes on Sefton Industrial Estate. All the vehicles were seized and further enquiries will be carried out to establish the exact circumstances and riders.

Chief Inspector Gary O’Rourke, who leads the force’s Operation Brookdale response to the criminal and nuisance use of off-road bikes, said: “It beggars belief that people would ride quad bikes on private land, with no legal permission, and even more so allow children to do the same. The obvious dangers to themselves and other people are plain to see and we will fully investigate the circumstances around this shocking incident.

“But people also have a responsibility to themselves and any children in their care not to arrange or encourage such reckless behaviour, which can and does end in tragedy. If you were in the area or nearby and saw this incident, and either have business or home CCTV or dashcam footage, let us know.

“I also want to take this opportunity to ask that anyone who knows where such bikes are being stored to keep coming forward. Calls to Merseyside Police in relation to off-road bikes have been reduced in recent months, which is encouraging, but we understand that they do still have a significant impact on some people within our communities.

"We regularly seize such vehicles off the back of your information, and if we can do so before they are out causing harm in the communities, then all the better. All information can and is acted upon to take illegally used vehicles from the streets.”

Anyone with information on the anti-social and nuisance use of off-road bikes is encouraged to keep reporting incidents to @MerPolCC, call 101 with reference 19100027515 or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 and we will keep taking action #OpBrookdale