IN the latest of a series introducing the area’s police inspectors, Insp Mike Reid, who is in charge of Farnworth, Kearsley and Little Lever, tells crime reporter Alex Peace about one of the issues affecting the area and what is being done to tackle it.

Insp Reid has been with the police for 27 years and spent most of his career working in Manchester City Centre.

For the last couple of years he has been the inspector for the Farnworth, Kearsley and Little Lever areas of the borough.

One of the issues that has blighted the area in recent months has been off-road bikes.

Insp Reid said: "The Farnworth, Kearsley and Little Lever areas of the Borough receive a lot of calls regarding off-road bikes in various locations, it is very annoying for residents and can cause a lot of damage as well as noise pollution."

Greater Manchester Police launched its Safer Road Targeting Team in July, a group of officers based in Eccles which uses various tactics to target off-road bikes.

Tactics include using their own bikes and focuses not just on bikes going off road but also ones that are used on highways illegally, such as uninsured bikes and riders without helmets.

Insp Reid said: "Your local Officers are now aware of this new unit and how to contact them. The unit covers all of Greater Manchester and there is more information that can be found on GMPs website, where you will find a toolkit explaining what can be done and how you can help us, general advice on collating evidence, making a note of the colour, or the type of bikes, description of the riders, if a photo, or video can be taken, but also ensuring you don’t compromise your own safety whilst doing so, there is also a record sheet to assist you to write down the best information.

"Information can also be passed onto your local council and housing providers, we work alongside them in trying to rid our communities of this very annoying activity."

The team saw results straight away in the area with bikes seized in Little Hulton and Walkden within a week of launch.

Insp Reid said: "From a Police point of view we can take the appropriate action, if the bikes have repeatedly been used and the owners, or riders ignore any warnings issued under section 59 of the Police Reform Act, we can seize the bikes under this legislation and deal with any other offences by way of summons, the best information you can pass to us is where the bike and rider live, we can then take the appropriate action."