Officers make arrests after two separate off-road bike incidents
Durham Constabulary has arrested two 15-year-olds following separate incidents involving off-road motorbikes in the county last week, the force has said.
In one incident, officers in Dean Bank, Ferryhill, observed a rider they say was using a motorbike illegally. The rider attempted to flee while wearing a balaclava, and a police car made contact with the machine, knocking the teenager from the bike. The rider was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving without a licence, driving without insurance and drug-driving.
Later the same day, officers policing in Darlington received reports of two teenagers riding a suspected stolen motorbike while carrying a screwdriver. Response officers say they identified the pair as they entered the Five Arches footpath, at which point a foot chase followed. The stolen motorbike was recovered hidden in nearby bushes and one boy’s mobile phone was found; photographs on the device were reported to include images of other stolen vehicles.
Both 15-year-olds were arrested and were said to be wanted in connection with a burglary. Police confirmed the recovered motorbike will be returned to its owner. A second recovered bike, described by the force as being used off-road and anti-socially, will be destroyed under Operation ORB, the force’s campaign to crush off-road bikes and illegal e-scooters used in crime or to cause nuisance on roads across the region.
“We won’t tolerate anyone who thinks they can ride illegally and anti-socially in County Durham and Darlington. We are coming for you.”
The force released images of the moment an officer vehicle made contact with the off-road biker. Durham Constabulary said the actions taken form part of a wider push to tackle illegal riding which blights communities, risks the safety of road users and often links to other criminal behaviour.
Community impact and policing response
Residents have for some time raised concerns about off-road bikes being ridden on streets, green spaces and public paths. Such incidents can create fear and disruption in local neighbourhoods and frequently generate calls for visible policing and swift enforcement action.
Operation ORB, highlighted by the force in its statement, is a region-wide initiative intended to remove dangerous machines from the roads and punish those responsible for using them in a way that causes harm or distress. The operation includes recovery and destruction of bikes deemed to be used for anti-social or criminal purposes.
- Location 1: Dean Bank, Ferryhill — rider knocked from bike, arrested on multiple driving offences.
- Location 2: Darlington — two teenagers chased, stolen motorbike recovered, arrests linked to burglary enquiries.
- Operation: ORB will see certain machines crushed to prevent further misuse.
| Incident | Place | Immediate outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Illegal riding; collision with police car | Dean Bank, Ferryhill | 15-year-old arrested (suspected driving offences) |
| Riding suspected stolen bike; foot chase | Five Arches footpath, Darlington | Two 15-year-olds arrested; stolen bike recovered |
Police described the use of balaclavas during the Dean Bank incident and the presence of tools — in this case a screwdriver — in the Darlington incident, details that the force says point to the often linked nature of anti-social riding and acquisitive crime.
Both incidents will feed into ongoing enquiries. The force has reiterated its message to those who engage in illegal riding: stronger enforcement and seizure powers are being used, and communities can expect action where off-road bikes are ridden on roads, public paths and in a manner that endangers people or property.
Local people concerned about off-road bikes or other antisocial driving are encouraged to report incidents to Durham Constabulary so information can be logged and used to inform patrols and pro-active operations.
