By Don Mort, local democracy reporting service
A petition calling on the police not to scrap a dedicated off-road bike team has been signed by more than 1,000 people.
It was launched after the West Yorkshire force said there could be “operational changes” in neighbourhood policing.
More than 1,000 people have since put their names to the Save Leeds Off-Road Bike Team online petition.
It was feared the specialist squad, which tackles crime and anti-social behaviour linked to nuisance bikes, would be absorbed into other policing units.
The petition website said: “By using motorbikes the team get into the alleys, woods, and estates where standard police cars and foot patrols can’t go.
“They don’t just tackle anti-social behaviour. They disrupt motorcycle theft, house burglaries, robberies, county lines drug networks and child criminal exploitation.”
West Yorkshire Police said it was still committed to tackling bike-related problems in city communities.
Assistant chief constable Damien Miller said: “To continue to meet government funding requirements and strengthen our neighbourhood policing, some operational changes may be required including moving standalone teams into neighbourhood policing.
“The work carried out by these standalone functions will still continue.”
Bramley and Stanningley Labour councillor Kevin Ritchie said the team was crucial in tackling issues in parks, green spaces and part of the canal that passes through his ward.
He said: “The team have done some excellent work tackling the ever increasing nuisance bikes and associated criminality.
“I share my constituents’ concerns, particularly in light of recent incidents on the canal towpath.
“The off-road bike team provide a unique service in responding to and tackling these crimes and incidents. I hope there is an urgent review of the decision.”
Leeds Liberal Democrat leader Stewart Golton (Rothwell) said he had asked for an urgent briefing with elected members to understand the reasons behind the move.
Coun Golton, who chairs the council’s communities scrutiny board, said: “Taking officers from a specialist off road bike team to assign them to neighbourhood policing teams feels like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
“It is also worrying that senior officers feel more obliged to respond to Home Office accounting rules when deploying staff than responding to community priorities.”
- The petition can be found here.