Two off-road motorbike riders were identified and reported by police after officers used a forensic marking spray during a targeted operation in North Herts.

The operation was carried out by the Baldock and Letchworth Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), following ongoing complaints from local residents about anti-social off-road biking in the area.

Police said officers first spotted two petrol-powered off-road motorcycles being ridden anti-socially on Grange Recreation Ground on Thursday 14 May. When the riders noticed officers, they fled the scene and headed onto the Greenway.

Anticipating where the riders would go next, officers moved to key access points, including near a local farm entrance, where they used SelectaDNA forensic marking spray to target the riders as they passed.

Although the riders abandoned their bikes and ran off on foot, both were marked with the harmless forensic solution, which can later be identified under ultraviolet light.

In an unusual twist, both riders later contacted their parents after becoming worried about the substance used to mark them. Police said the pair then voluntarily returned to the scene and handed themselves in.

Under UV light, the forensic marking was clearly visible and both individuals admitted illegally riding on the Greenway.

Police reported both riders for offences linked to the incident and seized the motorcycles after discovering they were being ridden without insurance.

advertisement

The operation was the first deployment in North Herts of OP AAORM (Action Against Off-Road Motorcycles) to result in a direct outcome.

PC Callum Ellis said: "This result demonstrates our proactive approach to tackling illegal off-road biking and the effectiveness of forensic marking technology.

"We continue to act on information provided by the public and remain committed to addressing anti-social vehicle use in our communities which remains one of our local Neighbourhood Policing Team priorities.

"Thank you to members of the public for reporting ongoing concerns about off-road motorcycles in the area, please keep reporting such issues."