THURROCK'S Divisional Police Chief Inspector Richard Melton has told residents in Thurrock that his team are working hard to combat the menace of nuisance motorbikes across the borough.

During a public open forum on Facebook this evening, (Tuesday, 19 January) Essex Police and Fire Commissioner Roger Hirst invited questions from residents about issues that concerned them and the problems with motorbikes in East Tilbury and Chafford Hundred were among the first asked.

Ch Insp Melton said: "It one of the areas that we are rally keen to address and we have carried out some really effective work with Thurrock Council to tackle motorcycle nuisance and motorcycle misuse.

"In terms of 2019 we had a decrease by 27 per cent but when have seen an increase in 2020. In lockdown people are turning again to scrambler motorbikes, perhaps as a means of something to do in lockdown.

"In the past year we have had 124 reports of nuisance vehicles and have issued 43 warning notices. We have recovered five stolen motorbikes and arrested seven people.

"But there is more that we can please keep reporting it."

ï®RECENTLY Essex Police reported that two motorbikes whose riders had committed offences by riding on open land near Stanford-le-Hope had had their bikes seized. It now transpires the bikes were returned to the riders and they were instead given a fine for breaching Covid regulations.