Off-road bike operation in Wigan sees 14 bikes seized and four arrests made over four days of action

An operation targeting anti-social behaviour on motorbikes, e-bikes and quadbikes in Wigan has continued into 2025. Already, we have seen officers seize 14 bikes and made four arrests after a four-day period in the district.

Operation Handbrake, is part of Wigan Borough’s Community Safety Partnership work, which sees Wigan Council team up with Greater Manchester Police and our partners to tackle community concerns.

The borough of Wigan has approximately 70 per cent of its area designated as greenspace, with two canals running through large parts of the borough.

This attracts a growing number of unauthorised off-road motorbikes and quad bikes which use the public rights of way, bridleways, canal towpaths and loop lines.

Over the last two weeks, 14 bikes were taken off the road, which ranged from off roaders to quadbikes. We have made four arrests during this operation, ranging from handling stolen goods to motoring offences.

The Neighbourhood Policing Team in Wigan saw an increase of riders coming from as far as Yorkshire and beyond.

On Sunday 26 January 2025, along with the assistance of the newly re-formed Off-Road Motorbike Unit, officers seized five bikes from the Wutchie and Westleigh areas.

Sergeant Dan Canavan from our Wigan district said: "Neighbourhood officers have dealt another significant blow to anti-social behaviour in Wigan with a successful operation resulting in four arrests and the seizure of 14 off-road bikes.

“This action demonstrates our ongoing commitment to keeping our community safe and addressing residents' concerns.

“The illegal use of off-road bikes has been a persistent issue in our area, causing distress to local residents and posing serious safety risks. These seizures send a clear message that we will not tolerate this behaviour.

“I want to thank the community for their continued support and encourage them to keep reporting these incidents to us. Working together, we can ensure Wigan remains a safe place for everyone. Operation Handbrake patrols are here to stay, and will be out during the week, evenings and weekends."