How your local police plan to target you

After learning some forces are planning to use ASBO laws to seize bikes during summer clampdowns, we asked every force in the country what enforcement plans they had in store targeting bikes. See what your local force said below.

Get today’s MCN  (Wednesday, May 16, 2007) for details on forces planning to use ASBO laws.

AVON AND SOMERSET
Roadside checks throughout May and into the rest of the Summer, concentrating on the A39 between Bridgwater and Minehead and the A303.

BEDFORDSHIRE
“We do not have any motorcycle campaigns ongoing at the moment.”

CAMBRIDGESHIRE
See today’s MCN.

CENTRAL SCOTLAND
“Constant weekend operations on A84 from Stirling to Fort William and the A809. Looking out for inappropriate riding with extra motorcycle patrols. Speed enforcement in the villages.”

CHESHIRE
“We’re specifically targeting bikers aged 36-40; born again bikers. We are running radio advertising specifically targeted at this age group. We have the Cat and Fiddle road in our force area which is very popular with bikers and will be carrying out roadside policing.”

CITY OF LONDON
“We will be running a motorcycle campaign in the summer but no details have been firmed up yet.”

CLEVELAND
“No extra motorcycle operations or clampdowns.”

CUMBRIA
Police advanced motorcyclists will attend the ‘hot spots’ around the county including Devil’s Bridge on the A686 near Kendal to mingle with the riders, warn them of the dangers and offer tips for safe driving.

DERBYSHIRE
“Roads policing officers, the Safety Camera Team, section patrol officers and the ANPR team will be carrying out increased enforcement operations at weekends and Bank Holidays on identified motorcycle hot routes.”
Bikers will be targeted on the following routes up to September: A6 Homesford Cottage near Cromford; A57 Snake Pass; A515 Ashbourne to Alsop-en-le-Dale; A621 Owler Bar to Baslow; A5012 Via Gellia; B5035 Ashbourne to Wirksworth; A624 Glossop to Chinley; A6 Matlock Bath to High Peak Junction.

DEVON AND CORNWALL
Regular operations targeting motorcyclists throughout summer with “education and engagement” focus.
“Enforcement is part of anything that we can do towards reducing the awful carnage on the roads but it’s only a small part.”

DORSET
Summer operations “will include targeted activity of particular road user types including motorcyclists”.

DURHAM
Operations targeting riders every weekend throughout summer with an educational focus.
“We go out there and stop as many motorcyclists as we can just to speak to them… If an offence needs dealing with, we’ll have to deal with it.”

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
No planned operations targeting motorcyclists.

DYFED-POWYS
See today’s MCN.
 
ESSEX
No enforcement operations targeting motorcyclists.
 
FIFE
Weekend operations using marked and unmarked cars and motorcycles on rural roads. “We’ll be doing both enforcement against motorcyclists who are riding inappropriately but we’ll also be looking to educate them and give them the opportunity to join our Bikesafe [rider course] programme.”

GLOUCESTERSHIRE
“Nothing specifically aimed at motorcyclists.”

GRAMPIAN
“We have no force-wide operations planned for the near future.”

GREATER MANCHESTER
Refused to give details.

GWENT
Operations using speed camera vans and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) over summer months.
“We will continue to educate motorcyclists through Bikesafe [rider course]. However, we have to consider appropriate enforcement action, which is necessary in light of increased casualties in serious and fatal road traffic collisions involving motorcyclists across Wales. We will be working closely with Dyfed Powys Police as many of the roads used by bikers in Gwent cross the border into mid Wales.”

HAMPSHIRE
Operation since the start of April, focussing on four key routes: A339 Basingstoke to Alton; A32 Alton to Fareham; A272 Winchester to Petersfield; A3057 Romsey to Andover.

HERTFORDSHIRE
No plans to target motorcyclists.

HUMBERSIDE
High visibility patrols along popular motorcycle routes until the end of October.

KENT
Refused to give details.

LANCASHIRE
Lancashire Constabulary currently has no plans for co-ordinated roadside checks of motorcycle riders in their region.

LEICESTERSHIRE
“Officers from the Road Policing Unit will be randomly carrying out stop checks on motorcyclists to check things like tyres and lighting. The aim of these checks is to educate motorcyclists rather than issue fixed penalty notices.”

LINCOLNSHIRE
Two covert cars and two covert bikes will advise first for dark visors and small plates under ACPO recommendations. More serious offenders will be prosecuted.

LOTHIAN AND BORDERS
Regular weekend “education and enforcement” patrols with six officers in liveried cars and bikes, focussing on two popular bike routes known as ‘Reivers Run’ and ‘Seven’s Trail’. Details: www.aroundthecorner.org.uk/routes.html
 
MERSEYSIDE
No bike-targeted operations.

METROPOLITAN
Regular ANPR operations targeting all motorists.

NORFOLK
Regular operations throughout summer. “Officers will be concentrating their efforts into promoting road safety amongst all motorcyclists. This will include stop checks for driving documents and to detect any offences that may be apparent.”
 
NORTHAMPSTONSHIRE
No plans for targeted enforcement against motorcyclists.

NORTHUMBRIA
No bike targeted enforcement operations. 

NORTH WALES
Failed to provide details.

NORTHERN CONSTABULARY
Nothing planned at this time.

NORTH YORKSHIRE
Extra patrols funded by local council on popular bikes roads on weekends and Bank Holidays.
High visibility and increased presence on roads leading up to race meetings and bike events including Croft British Superbikes. Riders who exceed the speed limit by 30mph or more will be fast-tracked through court and could be banned within days. 
“We will be hard on people who ride with race cans or ride like an idiot because we have to be. We don’t like to get tough on riders, but we will when we have to.”

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Failed to provide details.

POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND
Only Bikesafe riding courses.

SOUTH WALES
“We will be paying attention to hot spots such as the Gower area. We want to work with motorcyclists and will be trying to educate riders that they don’t need to break the law to enjoy the roads, but anyone caught breaking the law will be dealt with.”

SOUTH YORKSHIRE
“The force helicopter will be involved in enforcement which has yet to be scheduled over the summer period. It will be going to places where bikers pass through dangerous routes. We will use the helicopter to spot them and officers on the ground will stop them. It will be used for enforcement and also to spot riders we want to give advice to.”

STAFFORDSHIRE
“We’ve got nothing specific planned involving bikes.”

STRATHCLYDE
See today’s MCN.

SUFFOLK
“A year-long road safety campaign is ongoing and we’re concentrating on speeding at the moment. All officers are on the look-out for speeders and aiming to make preventing road collisions a priority… Suffolk isn’t the place to be speeding this weekend!”

SURREY
Refused to give details.

SUSSEX
High visibility patrols and checks targeting speeding and “antisocial use of motorcycles” on popular routes.

TAYSIDE
Only Bikesafe rider courses.

THAMES VALLEY
No bike enforcement operations planned.

WARWICKSHIRE
Only Bikesafe rider courses.

WEST MERCIA
Only Bikesafe rider courses.

WEST MIDLANDS
Only Bikesafe rider courses.

WEST YORKSHIRE
Only Bikesafe rider courses.

WILTSHIRE
Only Bikesafe rider courses.