Illegal bikers rip up concrete bollard in bid to escape after police swoop

[dutchman]

The pre-planned operation was carried out at an industrial estate



Over 20 people were detained by police - some as young as 14 - as officers cornered a group of illegal off-road bikers on to a Coventry industrial estate.

An array of off-road bikes were seized during the pre-planned operation which saw some of those detained try to escape by pulling up a large concrete bollard.

Police vehicles were used to block the entrances to the Seven Stars Industrial Estate, off Humber Road, on Sunday having received around 60 calls every weekend from people "worried about the behaviour of off-road bikers in the street, performing stunts, riding on pavements and intimidating other road users".

Traffic cops teamed up with specialist public order teams, dog handlers and neighbourhood officers for the operation and seized a total of nine scramblers, mopeds and quads – most of which have been confirmed as stolen – plus two vans used to transport the bikes.

Over 20 men, aged from 18 to 29, were detained at the scene alongside some children as young as 14.

Their details were taken by police and they will return to a police station for questioning at a later date.

The pre-planned operation was in response to community concerns over anti-social bike gatherings in Coventry and is the latest in a series of operations that has led to more than 50 arrests.