'Save the Leeds Off-Road Bike Team': Petition launched to stop specialist police unit being axed
The petition said scrapping the team would “directly fail every single resident of Leeds who is affected by the menace of bike-related crime”
West Yorkshire Police has said it remains committed to targeting issues caused by illegal and anti-social bike use, after a petition was launched to save the force’s dedicated off-road bike team (ORBT).
A petition titled “Save the Leeds Off-Road Bike Team” was launched last week as the force said “operational changes” may be on the way.
It has attracted more than 900 signatures at the time of writing.
The petition claims scrapping the team would have consequences beyond tackling anti-social bike use, saying it would “directly fail every single resident of Leeds who is affected by the menace of bike-related crime”.
It says the Leeds Off-Road Bike Team has spent years tackling illegal off-road activity and bike-enabled crime across the city, with its specialist knowledge, equipment and experience helping to deal with what it describes as a “persistent, evolving threat”.
The organisers said disbanding the team would be “a massive failure of management”, arguing that communities would suffer as a result.
West Yorkshire Police has confirmed that operational changes to its policing teams could be on the way.
Responding to the petition, assistant chief constable Damien Miller said the work carried out by any teams that may be disbanded would continue.
“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,” he said.
“The work carried out by these standalone functions will still continue.
“We remain committed to targeting the issues highlighted by our local communities, keeping people safe and bringing offenders to justice.”