POLICE have launched a crackdown on illegal and anti-social use of scrambler bikes during the coronavirus pandemic.

With a reduction in general calls to police, the force has been able to put more officers on the streets to tackle the issue.

Their message to illegal scrambler bike riders tempted to take to the roads is 'think again'.

Community police have been backed by the Road Policing Unit to patrol key areas on motorbikes and deployed police quad bikes in harder to reach off road areas.

In the past seven days, 12 bikes have been recovered by police across Merseyside.

On Wednesday a blue Kawasaki was seized after it was spotted being ridden on Borough Road in Wallasey by a male who did not have a licence and was not displaying a correct number plate.

Superintendent Gary O'Rourke said: "We are aware of a number of incidents involving scrambler bikes since restrictions on travel were brought in by the government, and thanks to information from the public we have seized 12 bikes in the last week.

"Reports of scrambler bike incidents in March were actually slightly down on the previous year, but we will not be complacent at a time when it would be more reckless than ever for riders to take to the streets.

"Anyone riding a scrambler bike at speed or in an anti-social manner on our roads, particularly without a helmet, risks causing themselves and others serious injury.

"Not only is the riding of these bikes non-essential travel, if you hurt yourself or others it could put an additional strain on the health service at a time when they could really do without it.

"Those who store and ride scrambler bikes dangerously on our roads and pavements are reckless at the best of times, but especially so during this period when the country needs to pull together to support our NHS, our key workers and essential public services.

"I want those in our communities who know where these bikes are being stored and who is riding them to help the national effort to protect the NHS and public services by letting us know, so we can take them off the streets and out of the hands of criminals."

Supt O’Rourke added: "With more people spending time at home, they may become aware of activity or neighbours storing scrambler bikes which they would not normally see.

“I appeal to those people and anyone else with information about where these bikes are being stored to do the right thing and contact us."

Anyone with information on scrambler bikes can contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre'.

You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously