Express & Star

Blitz on bikers: Three arrested from Black Country in crackdown as images released to trace more suspects

Three men from the Black Country have been arrested during a major blitz on bikers who caused havoc on the roads.

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And police have released images of a dozen further suspects they want to trace over the chaos caused.

Nuisance riders clogged up main roads, intimidated motorists, rode onto pavements, damaged grass verges and performed 'donuts' in the street.

Police targeted riders who met up during a day of chaos, dubbed Take Back the Streets, on June 26, in parts of Solihull and Birmingham.

Footage from the day, released by West Midlands Police, show riders on a range of bikes including quad bikes meeting at the rally.

One carves a 'donut' in the grass outside a petrol station while others are seen mounting the pavement and riding close to cars in the road.

It came weeks before a gang of 200 riders rode amok smashing cars and pulling dangerous stunts during a 'Halloween Ride Out' in Birmingham.

Police led a three-day operation from Monday this week in the biggest crackdown of its kind in the Midlands.

Two men from Wolverhampton and one from Oldbury are among a total of 25 people arrested.

An array of motorbikes were seized after 40 warrants were executed by police.

A further six people police want to speak to in connection with the bikers' rally in June

These included pit bikes, mini moto's, scramblers, road bikes, quads and even a beach buggy.

They have been impounded and face being crushed.

Police claim four of the seized bikes are stolen, while the raids also uncovered four cannabis farms.

Chief Inspector Jack Hadley, from West Midlands Police, said: "What we saw in June, and subsequently on Halloween, was pure lawlessness on our roads.

"The public told us they wanted firm action taken and we vowed to find those responsible – and this week we've followed through on that promise with the single biggest execution of warrants ever seen in West Midlands Police history.

"We've made lots of arrests and seized more than a dozen bikes. We will be pushing for court convictions and driving bans against these people and they can expect to have their bikes seized and destroyed.

"People need to understand that if they ride recklessly on public roads, showing disregard for communities and endangering other road users, they run the risk of being taken to court and hit with a hefty fine, a community order and a driving ban."

The men arrested range in age from 18 to 38 and include 20 men from Birmingham and one from Solihull.

A 51-year-old woman was also arrested from an address in Stechford on suspicion of cannabis cultivation.

All will be bailed until a date in March to allow officers more time to investigate.

A quad bike and beach buggy seized on Tuesday during a three day blitz on bikers

Meanwhile, West Midlands Police has issued images of more riders and motorbikes they want to trace in connection with the June 26 event.

Chief Insp Hadley, added: "I would ask members of the public to help us in our battle to target this kind of anti-social behaviour on our roads.

"If anyone recognises any of the people in these images, or have seen the bikes or know where they are kept, I'd ask them to contact us so we can take action."

Anyone with information can call police on 101 and quote Operation Wraithbane or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

*To see the bikers' video visit expressandstar.com

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