Cleveland Police have launched a dedicated task force to crack down on the criminal use of bikes across the region, using a combination of Stark Varg EX electric motorcycles and drone technology to chase down offenders and trace where their machines are being hidden.
Announced on June 25, 2026, the new unit puts officers solely on tackling people who use bikes illegally or to commit crime and antisocial behaviour. The force say the set-up lets them respond quickly to intelligence and carry out enforcement on the spot.
The announcement is accompanied by a video (below) showing motorcycles, scooters and e-bikes being seized and crushed.
Central to the operation are electric bikes , which the force say make their officers more agile and responsive. They’ve been jointly funded by local housing associations Thirteen Group and Beyond Housing, along with the Cleveland Road Safety Partnership. The e-bikes work alongside drones, which allow police to follow offending bikes back to wherever they’re being stored.
The scale of the problem is significant. In February and March 2026 alone, there were more than 800 incidents involving bikes in some form of crime or incident across Cleveland.
Superintendent Paul Richardson, the force’s lead for the criminal use of bikes, said: “We know that the criminal use of bikes adversely impacts our communities, and we are fully committed to continuing to be strong on this type of crime, and protect our communities from those who pose harm by using bikes for criminal gain.
“We want to send a clear message to those who are using bikes illegally in our area, and specifically those who are using them to commit crime , that it won’t be tolerated – not on our streets. We are watching and waiting; and we are coming for you.”
Richardson added that the task force would “hit the ground running” and complement existing work by other departments and partner agencies already seizing illegal bikes.
The housing associations backing the scheme say antisocial riding is one of the issues their residents complain about most. Angela Corner, Thirteen’s head of communities, said: “We know from the reports we get from our customers that they’re sick and tired of seeing people tearing around estates on bikes and they want something to be done about it. That’s why we’ve contributed funding for these new electric bikes to help the police track offenders and their vehicles.”
Ben Briggs, regeneration manager at Beyond Housing, said the criminal use of bikes was “a major and recurring issue” causing real distress for residents. “By combining enforcement, intelligence and new technology, this task force will help tackle persistent antisocial and criminal behaviour, sending a clear signal that it won’t be tolerated in our communities,” he said.
Cleveland’s approach is the latest in a string of regional efforts to get a grip on bike crime and nuisance riding. Other forces have tried a variety of tactics, with mixed methods and results. Nottinghamshire Police recently called on the public to film and report antisocial off-road riders, building a picture of offenders through dashcam footage and photographs, with riders facing Section 59 notices that see their bikes seized on the next encounter with officers.
Avon and Somerset Police took a patch-wide approach using CID, roads policing, drones and National Police Air Service support, netting 28 arrests or voluntary interviews and recovering 27 stolen motorbikes, while reporting a 35% dr…