Update from Sgt Walsh - Operation Dragster 16/03/2025 Log 814 16/03/2025

Rochdale North and East Neighbourhoods, special constabulary, United Utilities, Community Volunteers were joined by GMP Off Road Bike officers to carry out Operation Dragster on the moorland areas of Rochdale Sunday 16th March 2025.

Despite a large increase in enforcement and operations over the past year there was a lot of activity on Rooley Moor towards the Lancashire Borders. 

Really good joint work between the district staff, off Road & on road Bike Officers the community volunteers and United Utilities and the operation proved very successful wit the  results were as below -

3 x Off Road Bikes Seized Section 59 Police Reform Act  (Riders had travelled from Sheffield, Nottingham and Leigh) 

                     2 x Quad Bikes Seized Section 59 Police Reform Act (Riders had travelled from Accrington)

5 x Community Protection Warnings issued to the riders

5 x Breach of Public Space Protection Orders to be processed for the riders by Rochdale Council Community Safety Team

Damage was caused to a fence in a farmers field along Edenfield Road by one rider who unfortunately escaped just before officers arrived.

On the way back into the station, eagle eyed PC Richards located a vehicle which had earlier made off from him it was seized under Section 165 Road Traffic Act for having no insurance.

A vehicle was seen driving erratically by PCSO Stewart, PC Higham and PC Peverley – vehicle observed until it could be stopped by a marked unit & the driver failed a roadside breach test which showed him two times over the limit,  he was arrested for Drink Drive

We hope the message is clear that we will take the strongest possible action in terms of enforcement. It is not acceptable having large groups of riders causing damage to the moorland, damage to farmers property, including damage to fencing which allows animals to escape, and also danger to legitimate users of the land such as horse riders, cyclists, farmers, and walkers.