North Manchester crackdown on nuisance e-bikes leads to arrests and seizures
Operation Eagleye targets dangerous and illegal e-bike activities
An intensive operation named Operation Eagleye is underway in North Manchester, focusing on reducing the nuisance caused by e-bikes, leading to multiple arrests and vehicle seizures.
Prompted by reports of dangerous e-bike activities across areas like Miles Platting, Collyhurst, and Monsall, the operation aims to tackle issues involving traffic violations, drug dealing, and excessive noise.
Operation details and outcomes
On Friday, 24th April, about 20 officers flooded the affected areas utilizing drones, bikes, marked cars, and plain-clothed patrols. This led to the seizure of four e-bikes and an e-scooter, alongside the recovery of cannabis during stop-searches.
In recent weeks, Operation Eagleye has achieved multiple arrests for offences including drug supply, knife possession, theft, and burglary, demonstrating proactive efforts in curbing crime linked to e-bikes and similar vehicles.
Community engagement and future actions
Over the coming weeks, the operation will continue, with the local neighbourhood policing team actively engaging community members, council representatives, schools, and more for a joint effort in addressing local issues.
Inspector Dan Pickavance, who initiated Operation Eagleye, emphasized the significance of confronting anti-social e-bike behavior:
"Anti-social e-bikes are both dangerous and a nuisance to communities...This operation is designed to specifically track and root out e-bikes in the area," Pickavance stated.
He assured the public of ongoing efforts to seize non-compliant bikes and vehicles, prioritizing community safety: "This work will continue until we see a significant change...If you have any issues with anything in your area, please do get in touch with us."
Residents are encouraged to report concerns directly or anonymously, and all intelligence will be handled appropriately by the policing team.