Watch: Dramatic video illustrates crack down on off road bikers and street racers
Dramatic new footage released by the Home Office shows the police at work to bring offenders using off road bikes to justice
It comes as forces including the West Midlands Police are to be given stronger powers to seize and destroy vehicles within 48 hours to crack down on anti-social behaviour.
A stark message from the Home Office accompanying the video said: "Communities have become all too familiar with off-road bikes storming public parks and street racers charging through our roads - this must end.
Forces will be given stronger powers to drive out anti-social behaviour from their region's streets, enabling officers to seize and destroy vehicles after a 48-hour window.
The first two forces to come under the pilot scheme are West Midlands and Greater Manchester.
The news comes as Rachel Reeves has signalled that police will not have to make choices about which crimes they investigate following the Government’s spending review.
Senior police chiefs and Government watchdogs have written to the Prime Minister warning they will be forced to make difficult choices if spending cuts are announced by the Chancellor next Wednesday.
But the Chancellor sought to ease the worries of police leaders.
Speaking in Rochdale, Ms Reeves told reporters: “We will be increasing spending on police in the spending review next week, so that’s not a decision… or a choice that I would recognise.”
The letter from the police chiefs said negotiations between the Treasury and the Home Office were going “poorly”.
It read: “A settlement that fails to address our inflation and pay pressures would entail stark choices about which crimes we no longer prioritise.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are backing the police to protect our communities and keep our streets safe with up to £17.6 billion this year, an increase of up to £1.2 billion.
“This includes £200 million to kickstart putting 13,000 additional neighbourhood police officers, PCSOs and special constables that the public will see back on their streets and patrolling communities, as part of our Plan for Change.”
