Steel, Dust, and Brotherhood: Adventure Bikes That Carry Stories Beyond Roads.
Adventure riding is not about escaping life. It’s about meeting it head-on, one trail at a time. #AdventureMotorcycles #OffRoadRiding #MotorcycleClubs #RideToExplore #AdventureBikes #MotorcycleLife #RideFree #TrailRiding #GoodOldBandit
Steel, Dust, and Brotherhood: Adventure Bikes That Carry Stories Beyond Roads.
Adventure riding is not about escaping life. It’s about meeting it head-on, one trail at a time. #AdventureMotorcycles #OffRoadRiding #MotorcycleClubs #RideToExplore #AdventureBikes #MotorcycleLife #RideFree #TrailRiding #GoodOldBandit
SWANSEA: Sixteen bikes seized as police operation targets illegal off-road riders with aircraft support
Sixteen motorbikes and off-road bikes have been seized across Swansea as part of a major policing operation targeting illegal and antisocial riding, with officers using a fixed-wing aircraft to track offenders from the air before swooping to arrest them on the ground.
Operation Akalat, run by South Wales Police, targets the illegal and antisocial use of off-road bikes, stolen vehicles and drug dealing – issues which officers say have a significant impact on communities across Swansea and are consistently raised by residents as affecting their quality of life, public safety and confidence in policing.
The latest operation, which took place on Friday 24 April, saw officers deploy the NPAS fixed-wing aircraft to spot and follow illegal riders across the city. Numerous off-road and illegally ridden bikes were tracked from the air until they could be safely apprehended on the ground.
The results were significant. Sixteen motorcycles, Sur-Rons and off-road bikes were seized – eight in Penlan, three in the city centre, three in Townhill and two in Morriston. Several of the bikes were confirmed as stolen. Officers also created 14 Postal Charge Requisitions for offences including dangerous driving, possession of drugs and no insurance, and carried out eight stop searches.
PC Connor Sumner-Jones, of the Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Intelligence Unit, said the operation had been a significant success. “This police activity has helped to make a big dent in issues which have been plaguing the respective communities in Swansea, as well as restoring faith and public confidence to 999 and 101 callers, who have now seen us act upon their information and achieve results,” he said.
Inspector Andrew Hedley added that the operation demonstrated a sophisticated approach to problem-solving in the run-up to summer. “This was an example of really great work and an absolutely fantastic approach to problem-solving which will send a robust message to those acting illegally or anti-socially with bikes and motorbikes in the lead-up to the summer,” he said.
He added: “The level of disruption seen under this operation will make a real difference in the communities affected and helps reduce demand more widely. A lot of time and policing hours went into planning and executing this operation, which tackles issues which are very important to the local community.”
Insp Hedley said Op Akalat would continue running frequently over the coming months alongside Operation Lathyrus, sending a clear message that the force was listening to community concerns. “Operations of this nature will continue frequently in the coming months,” he said.
The operation is the latest in a series of targeted policing actions across Swansea aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour that has become a persistent concern in residential areas including Penlan, Townhill and Morriston. Residents in those communities have repeatedly raised concerns about illegal riders causing danger and disturbance on streets and open spaces.
South Wales Police said the use of the NPAS aircraft had proved particularly effective in allowing officers to safely monitor and pursue riders who would otherwise evade ground-based patrols. The aircraft tracked multiple bikes simultaneously before coordinating with officers on the ground to intercept them.
A video of the operation, showing aerial footage of riders being followed and stopped, was shared by South Wales Police on social media and attracted widespread attention from local residents welcoming the crackdown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyPc88ySLDQ&t=3s
Anyone with information about illegal or antisocial use of bikes in their area is encouraged to contact South Wales Police by calling 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always call 999.
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Police seize five motorcycles linked to anti‑social behaviour in Gorseinon
Bikes found hidden in woodland
The Gorseinon Neighbourhood Policing Team confirmed they had located five motorcycles hidden in woodland near the town. Officers believe the vehicles are connected to recent reports of anti‑social behaviour in the area.
All five motorcycles have now been seized, with enquiries ongoing to establish their identity and ownership.
Police statement
In a post on social media, South Wales Police said:
“The Gorseinon Neighbourhood Policing Team have located five motorcycles concealed within local woodland. All the motorcycles have been seized by the Police. Enquiries are now ongoing to establish the identity of the motorcycles and their owners. These are believed to be the motorcycles that have been the cause of anti‑social behaviour within Gorseinon over recent months.”
Community impact
Residents in Gorseinon have raised concerns in recent months about nuisance riding and noise linked to off‑road motorcycles. Police say the seizures form part of ongoing work to tackle anti‑social behaviour and improve safety in the community.
#antiE28091socialBehaviour #antisocialBehaviour #gorseinon #motorbikes #offroadBikes #southWalesPolice
Blaenymaes man charged after drugs and cash seized in police raid
South Wales Police said officers from the Penlan Neighbourhood Policing Team, supported by the Special Constabulary and the Territorial Support Team, executed a search warrant at an address in Woodford Road, Blaenymaes, on Friday 3 October.
During the operation, officers recovered significant amounts of Class A controlled drugs and cash. Several off‑road motorcycles were also seized as part of the investigation.
Andrew Clarke, 35, from Blaenymaes, has been charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of criminal property. He has been remanded into custody.
Three other individuals who were arrested at the scene remain under investigation.
Police have released an image showing a number of off‑road bikes propped against a garden wall and driveway gate at the property.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Swansea cannabis dealer jailed for harassing ex and witness intimidation
A dealer who harassed his former partner and intimidated a witness has been jailed after police uncovered his cannabis operation.
Mayhill man jailed for Class A drug supply
Ricky O’Connor, 33, was sentenced to 30 months after police seized cocaine, cash and weapons during a raid at his home.
Birmingham men jailed after dealing Class A drugs in Swansea
Ayaz Hussain and Asam Bashir were jailed for more than seven years each after being caught supplying heroin and crack cocaine in Swansea.
Swansea man linked to transatlantic yacht cocaine plot as crime group jailed
A Swansea man was among those sentenced after a crime group was caught smuggling cocaine across the Atlantic by yacht.
#arrests #BlaenYMaes #Blaenymaes #cocaine #custody #drugsRaid #offRoadBikes #Penlan #SouthWalesPolice #Swansea #WoodfordRoad
Police seize hundreds of illegal e‑scooters across South and Mid Wales
Rising seizures in South Wales and Dyfed‑Powys
Figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests show that South Wales Police have confiscated 272 e‑scooters since 2022, while Dyfed‑Powys Police have seized 99 over the same period. Officers say the vehicles are being taken off the streets for a range of reasons — from being uninsured under the Road Traffic Act, to being used in drug offences, assaults and thefts.
In South Wales, seizures peaked at 90 in 2023, with another 81 taken in 2024 and 43 already removed in the first half of 2025. Dyfed‑Powys recorded 37 seizures in 2022/23, 19 in 2023/24, and 43 in 2024/25.
Both forces stress that the figures are not just about nuisance riding. In Swansea, three drug dealers were jailed after being stopped on an e‑scooter, while in Milford Haven a crash involving a scooter led police to uncover a £15,000 drug stash.
Collisions and safety concerns
South Wales Police also confirmed that e‑scooters were involved in five road traffic collisions between 2022 and 2024 – three in Swansea and two in Cardiff. Because private e‑scooters cannot be insured, riders involved in crashes face the same consequences as uninsured drivers, including fines, penalty points and liability for compensation.
Nationally, government figures show that 416 people were seriously injured in e‑scooter collisions in 2023. Fire services have also raised alarms over battery safety, after an e‑bike battery exploded in Port Tennant, sparking an early‑morning blaze.
Police powers and crackdowns
To tackle the problem, police have been given new powers to crush seized e‑scooters and off‑road bikes within 48 hours if they are used antisocially. South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Wools said the vehicles are often linked to organised crime and serious violence, and swift disposal sends a clear message.
In Swansea city centre, Operation Lathyrus saw officers seize 17 e‑bikes and make seven arrests in a single day, with police warning that more than 30% of bikes stopped were illegal or dangerously modified.
Debate over regulation
While enforcement has intensified, the debate over e‑scooter safety continues. A RoSPA study found that e‑scooters had a collision rate five times lower than bicycles and nine times lower than motorcycles — but most incidents occurred in areas without regulated rental schemes, suggesting that illegal private use is far riskier.
Police and trading standards have repeatedly warned parents not to buy e‑scooters as Christmas presents, reminding them that private models cannot legally be used on roads, pavements or cycle paths.
Government vows crackdown on unsafe e‑scooter use
The UK Government says a second national evaluation of the e‑scooter trials is under way, focusing on user and public safety, accessibility impacts, and how the vehicles could be integrated into the wider transport network.
A spokesperson said:
“The Government is giving the police stronger powers to stop vehicles being used disruptively, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing illegally owned private e‑scooters. This will allow them to deal swiftly with dangerous e‑scooters on pavements.
“New Respect Orders will give the police and local councils powers to ban persistent offenders from certain areas where they are causing harm, and failure to comply with Respect Orders will be a criminal offence.”
Ministers argue that the measures will help police act more quickly against unsafe and antisocial use, while also ensuring that lessons from the ongoing rental trials inform any future legislation.
“Behind the numbers are real risks”
Campaigners warn that the rise in seizures reflects not only tougher enforcement but also the growing number of people using e‑scooters illegally.
A spokesperson for Personal Injury Claims UK, which compiled the national data, said:
“If an e‑scooter rider causes a collision, they face the same consequences as a car driver – including liability for personal injury compensation. The figures highlight the risks for both riders and the public.”
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#DyfedPowysPolice #eBike #eScooter #eScooterSeizure #illegalEBikes #illegalEScooter #LithiumBattery #offRoadBikes #RoadTrafficAccident #RoSPA #SouthWalesPolice
Electric offroad motorbike rider seriously injured after van crash
Police say the collision took place just after 11am on Sunday (1 June) on Ty-Draw Road at Bonymaen Cross.
The motorcycle rider was taken to hospital with serious injuries which were not life changing following the collision with a white Vauxhall Vivaro van.
Police say an investigation into the incident is underway and officers are trying to trace the motorcycle, which was taken from the scene before they arrived.
PC Ross McGrath from South Wales Police’s Roads Policing Unit said: “ We want to thank those members of the public who assisted us at the scene and want to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision who hasn’t yet spoken to officers.
“Motorists who were in the area at the time are also urged to check for dashcam footage of the incident.
“We would also like to hear from anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of the off-road motorcycle.”
#Bonymaen #electricMotorbike #offRoadBikes #offRoadBikes #RoadTrafficAccident #SouthWalesPolice
Police to crush e-scooters and off-road bikes used anti-socially within 48 hours
Perpetrators of anti-social driving face having their cars, e-scooters or off-road bikes seized and destroyed after 48 hours under stronger powers proposed by the UK Government. Currently, police must wait 14 days before being able to dispose of a vehicle, making it easier for offenders to reclaim their vehicles and with a limited deterrent to repeat offending.
The measures to fast-track the disposal of vehicles comes alongside additional proposals to give police stronger powers to seize any vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing them.
Communities across Swansea have been plagued by people riding offroad bikes in an antisocial way.
Police say they have received an “increase in calls regarding off-road bikes in and around the Loughor and Pontarddulais areas in recent weeks”.
Just last week, Swansea Bay News reported photos taken by a local resident that showed five offroad motorbikes being driven through Loughor, with riders – some of which are wearing balaclavas rather than helmets – pulling wheelies and driving in a dangerous manner.
Residents say this is a “massive problem” and that offroad bikes “ride on pavements, footpaths, play areas and roads and have no regards for their own or others safety.”
Gower MP, Tonia Antoniazzi says she supports the UK Government’s crackdown.
Ms Antioniazzi said: “It’s sad that it’s come to this, but people have the right to feel safe in their streets. If off-road bikes and scooters are being deliberately driven in residential roads to cause a nuisance and intimidate people tough action is needed. I welcome what the government is doing to support the police to tackle antisocial behaviour and prevent reoffending”
South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Wools said: “These new powers send a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities in Wales: swift justice will be delivered and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.
“Sales of e-scooters and off-road bikes have rapidly increased, so today is an important step in tackling more serious crime in Wales, with the vehicles often used to facilitate drug dealing, organised acquisitive crime and serious violence.”
#antisocialBehaviour #Loughor #offRoadBikes #PoliceAndCrimeCommissioner #SouthWalesPolice #ToniaAntoniazziMP #UKGovernment
Residents terrified of ‘intimidating’ off-road bikes in Loughor are demanding action
Photos taken by local resident, Robert Neil on Tuesday (20 May) show five offroad motorbikes being driven down Castle Street in Loughor, with riders – some of which are wearing balaclavas rather than helmets – pulling wheelies and driving in a dangerous manner.
A 67-year-old local resident, who didn’t want her name published for fear of reprisals, said: “I was intimidated by these idiots. I had to stop to let a car through and they drove right up to by bumper revving their bikes constantly. I had to pull to the side to get rid of them. They went speeding off four in a line and easily could have killed or injure someone.”
Off-road bikes being driven dangerously in LoughorLocal resident Sara Nabialek said: “It is a massive problem. I live in Gorseinon near the cycle paths and we regularly get off road bikes driving around Parc Melyn Mynach where there is a children’s play area, kids in their bikes and lots of dog walkers.
“Yesterday a lady with sight difficulties and a white stick was walking towards the path with her child when an off road bike went shooting from the main road up the path towards the play area.
“I saw three of these lunatics driving from the housing estate by Asda on the roads, Out onto Valeo roads. These are off road bikes so have no tax MOT or insurance.
“Over the years I’ve reported bikes to the police, I’ve raised the issue with our MP twice and still the problem continues and worsens.
“They ride on pavements, footpaths, play areas and roads and have no regards for their own or others safety. They know the police won’t and can’t do anything to stop them so they continue. I fear nothing will change until someone is injured or worse killed by one of these clowns.”
Writing on social media, Megan Johnson said: “The ones with no helmets and balaclavas I’ve seen around Gorseinon before. These and the E scooters on pavements and roads need to be stopped. Speed bumps don’t work with these kids.”
An anonymous poster added: “They were at the estuary foreshore earlier. Riding along the path while people were walking dogs there. A matter of time before someone gets injured.”
The police have said they have had an increasing number of calls about off-road bikes in the area, and are calling on the public to report sightings so they can respond more effectively.
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “We received a report of off-road bikes and/or e-bikes being ridden anti-socially in the area of Castle Street, Loughor, Swansea at around 6.45pm on Tuesday May 20.
“We have had an increase in calls regarding off-road bikes in and around the Loughor and Pontarddulais areas in recent weeks.
“The local Neighbourhood Policing Team are aware of this matter and looking at possible solutions to address the issue. PCSOs have attended the area to reassure the community.
“We encourage reports from members of public so that we can identify patterns and trends to respond more efficiently. If you know the identity of any of the riders involved in this anti-social behaviour, please report it to us via 101, quoting 2500159794.”
#antisocialBehaviour #featured #Gorseinon #Loughor #offRoadBikes #Pontarddulais #SouthWalesPolice
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