§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints were made to Merseyside Police about illegal quad bikes in the last 12 months; and how many prosecutions resulted. [131962]
§ Ms BlearsDetailed figures for the whole of last year are not available. I understand, however, from Merseyside Police that they estimate there were, over the summer months, around 1,000 complaints relating to the misuse of quad bikes in the force area. These resulted in about 100 prosecutions and cautions.
Over the summer months Merseyside Police undertook a specific operation against quad bike riders causing a nuisance. This operation specifically led to 17 prosecutions and 16 vehicles being seized under the provisions of section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002.