Residents have been urged to inform police of any intelligence they have amid continued concerns around anti-social behaviour and crimes linked to motorcycles.

Northumbria Police chiefs, speaking at the latest meeting of Jarrow and Boldon Community Area Forum (CAF), stressed numerous measures are being carried out to tackle issues around motorcycles and off-road bikes.

As well as responding to worries from councillors around nuisance riders, officers also highlighted how they are taking action over recent thefts of such vehicles from sheds and garages in the area.

placeholder image — South Shields Town Hall | LDRS

Police statistics noted there were four burglaries recorded in the Jarrow area and two in the Boldon and Boldon Colliery areas since the last CAF meeting in September which involved offenders stealing, or attempting to steal, motorcycles.

Inspector David Heron, speaking at the meeting, said: “You can see that motorbike crime is quite topical and there were quite a few instances of garages and sheds being broken into for motorbikes.

“We’ve identified that trend and we’re starting an operation to tackle that criminality and the offenders behind it.”

In response to concerns around ongoing anti-social behaviour from nuisance off-road motorcycle riders he stressed police continue to work to find those responsible and seize the vehicles.

However Inspector Heron stressed intelligence from the public is key to this and urged residents to report any incidents they witness.

He added: “The more information we get, the more reports we get, areas become hot spots, so then we can identify them and try to take action.

“What we want as an organization is to find out where they’re going, because we cannot chase them.

“But if we find out where they store them [the bikes] then that’s how we can get them and catch them.”

Police reports noted there have been four reports of motorcycle disorder in the Boldon and Boldon Colliery areas since the last CAF meeting, the same number as in the period the previous year, and four in the Jarrow area.

Figures to the latest meeting of the Hebburn Community Area Forum noted police had recorded 14 incidents of motorcycle disorder in the period from September 6 to October 28.

People can report incidents of nuisance motorbike riders and any intelligence to police at https://www.northumbria.police.uk/ as well as by calling 101.

For details on how to report antisocial behaviour to the council, visit https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/1957/Report-anti-social-behaviour.