Off-road police officers catch three illegal bikers (From Your Local Guardian)

Off-road police officers catch three illegal bikers in Mole Valley

8:00am Monday 6th February 2012 in Epsom By Lauren May

Bikers riding off-road illegally got a nasty surprise last month when they were caught by a team of officers on their own new off-road bikes.

Three bikes were seized on Saturday, January 14, by a team police officer using their new bikes which the police bought at the end of last year.

The operation in Mole Valley was organised to raise awareness of the danger illegal riders pose to the countryside and those using it.

Dominic Loraine, Mole Valley neighbourhood officer, said: "For some time we have been trying to educate riders who use the narrow, rural, byways of the area the importance that they comply with regulations, which most of them do, but we still have a minority which continue to flout the law.

"Since the Mole Valley Neighbourhood Team received funding for two off-road motorbikes at the end of last year we have been able to patrol areas which we otherwise we would not have been able to reach in the Landrover and as a result have been able to catch some of those responsible for anti-social and illegal riding."

Two of the riders were fined £200 and had six points added to their licence for the offence.

A third man is still undergoing investigation.

Anyone with information about riders using their motorbikes illegally throughout Mole Valley should contact the safer neighbourhood team on 101.