Police crack down on rural crime

Police used motorbikes to catch illegal off-roaders

A 10 week police-led operation to combat illegal off-road biking, grass fires and fly-tipping has begun in the south Wales valleys.

Police officers have joined forces with firefighters and the Forestry Commission for Operation Pitman in the Cynon, Merthyr and Rhymney valleys.

Thirty off-road bikes were seized as part of the joint operation on Sunday.

It is hoped the scheme could help to make the Valleys a more attractive prospect for investors and businesses.

More than 100 members of the police, fire service, council workers and the Forestry Commission were involved in the first day of the operation, which also resulted in the issue of around 14 section 59 warning notices.

These are written warning telling people that what they are doing is illegal. Anyone who receives two of these notices within 12 months can have their vehicle seized.

Off-road vehicles, mountain bikes, a helicopter and police horses and dogs were used in patrolling anti-social behaviour and biking hotspots in the hillsides and forests near Aberdare, Merthyr and Rhymney.

Motorbikes - the law It is illegal to drive any mechanically propelled vehicle, this includes mini bikes, mini quads, scooters or any off-road motorbike on a public road without insurance, road tax , driving certificate, or MOT certificate, if necessary Such vehicles can be driven off-road on a suitable piece of private land with the owner's permission but not on streets, common land, forestry land, playing fields or in parks.

Special command rooms were set up at Aberdare and Merthyr police stations to co-ordinate the operation.

Signs have also been put up on places like Caerphilly Common, on top of the mountain, to warn people that illegal off-roading will not be tolerated.

Police said members of the community often listed off-road bikes as a nuisance. There is also a risk of injury to both those riding the vehicles and passers by.

Councillor David Poole, from Caerphilly County Borough Council said such anti-social behaviour can ruin the enjoyment of the countryside for others and pose a serious risk to wildlife.

"Culprits should now know that they are not beyond the long arm of the law," he said.

"We as a partnership are committed to keeping the heat on such offenders and they should know they run the risk of losing their vehicles should their anti-social behaviour persist."

We have all got to be aware of how it looks to possible investors when they are driving up the valleys in the spring time and there are black marks on the countryside and fly tipping Sgt Richard Gardener

Off-road bikers were a priority for the team on the first day of Operation Pitman, but other rural crimes are also being targeted in the hope that life in the Valleys can be improved.

Grass fires and fly tipping are a major problem in the area.

In a 28-day period through March and April, 201 fires were reported to the Forestry Commission, destroying around 45 hectares at a cost of £220,000.

More than 2000 incidents of fly-tipping at a cost of more than £110,000 was reported in the Caerphilly region alone between April 2005 and 2006, a Countryside Alliance investigation found.

"You have got to look at the bigger picture," said Sgt Richard Gardener of South Wales Police.

"We have all got to be aware of how it looks to possible investors when they are driving up the valleys in the spring time and there are black marks on the countryside and fly tipping.

"It affects us all because people think that that is how the valleys are and perhaps they won't invest here.

"So there are bigger implications to what we are doing - to try and make the valleys a better place."