Police crackdown on menace motorcyclists in Northumberland town

Motorcycle menaces making life a misery in a Northumberland town have been warned time is running out.
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Operation Swift was launched earlier in the year by the Blyth Neighbourhood Team to combat motorcycle disorder in the community.

Now, as part of the operation alongside Northumberland Council, officers will be using a ground-breaking DNA spray which enables officers to tag offenders.

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They will carry canisters containing an invisible water-based UV solution which can spray riders’ skin, clothes or bikes with a uniquely-coded dye.

The spray can be used to mark skin, clothes or propertyThe spray can be used to mark skin, clothes or property
The spray can be used to mark skin, clothes or property

Funded by Improving Croft and Cowpen Quay (ICCQ), the spray can help provide forensic evidence to link individuals or items to a specific crime.

Neighbourhood Inspector Neil Hall, one of the officers overseeing the operation, said: “We know this type of disorder and criminality can be of huge concern for residents and I want to reassure the public that we do take it seriously.

“There may be some who think these are just bored teenagers who have nowhere to ride their motorcycles, but that is not always the case. Many of the individuals involved in this type of disorder have been involved in serious criminal offences and a lot of the bikes are stolen.

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“We’re extremely grateful to Improving Croft and Cowpen Quay for funding this spray in Blyth, and would urge anyone who knows those involved in nuisance motorcycle riding to give us a call.”

The spray has been used successfully in South Shields, Gateshead and NewcastleThe spray has been used successfully in South Shields, Gateshead and Newcastle
The spray has been used successfully in South Shields, Gateshead and Newcastle

The operation has already seen a number of motorcycles seized and riders identified – but officers are keen to maintain the momentum.

Coun Kath Nesbit, of Northumberland County Council, said “We are pleased to be able to work with Blyth NPT to provide this new solution to targeting motorbike disorder. This is something that is causing disruption, nuisance and misery for many residents of Blyth.

“Both ICCQ and Northumbria Police are committed to identifying and prosecuting offenders and improving the quality of life for all residents of our town”.

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If you want to send pictures, video or intelligence to the task-force then you can do so by using the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website. In an emergency, always ring 999.

The spray allows officers to identify offenders after the eventThe spray allows officers to identify offenders after the event
The spray allows officers to identify offenders after the event

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