North Yorkshire Police have teamed up with the North York Moors National Park to clamp down on illegal off-road motorcycles and 4×4 vehicles causing damage to protected moorland.
Officers from the Ryedale Neighbourhood Policing Team have launched a series of joint patrols alongside national park Rangers to deter and detect the culprits.
The first was held last Saturday (27 April) across an area including Rudland Rigg near Kirkbymoorside.
On the day, police were pleased to report that all the riders and drivers they encountered were responsible and considerate ‘green laning’ off-road motorists who use sustainable unsurfaced unclassified roads where a legal right of access exists.
They were happy to see the joint Police-Ranger presence and welcomed future patrols and enforcement against offenders who, unfairly, often give them a bad name by mistaken association.
PC Rob Harrison, from the Ryedale Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “North Yorkshire Police and North York Moors National Park will not tolerate the damaging misuse of the moorland by off-road motorcycles and 4×4 vehicles in the Ryedale area.
“We’re regularly patrolling these areas unannounced, and we’re determined to catch offenders in the act and prosecute them if necessary.
“Suspects can expect to have their vehicles seized, receive a fine and, potentially, receive penalty points on their driving licence.”
