Better Late Than Never: Government Wants to Speed Up Disposal of Nuisance Bikes
The Home Office is to launch a consultation which could speed up the process of seizing and crushing nuisance motorcycles
The government is gearing up to hand police stronger powers to seize and destroy vehicles involved in antisocial behaviour (including off-road bikes, street racers, and e-scooters), within just 48 hours, as part of a wider crackdown on crime and disorder.
Under current legislation, officers must wait 14 days before they can dispose of seized vehicles, often giving offenders ample opportunity to reclaim their bikes or cars. The proposed changes, revealed as part of the government’s “Plan for Change,” aim to shorten that window dramatically and eliminate the need for a warning prior to seizure.
The move is part of a broader effort to clamp down on nuisance driving and so-called “boy racer” culture that’s blighting communities up and down the country. Illegal off-road riding in public parks and late-night street racing have become key concerns for residents, with vehicles often linked to wider criminal activity, including, according to the GOV.UK website, drug dealing and organised crime.
Speaking about the changes, Minister for Crime and Policing Dame Diana Johnson said:
“By enabling police to seize and dispose of these vehicles within just 48 hours, we’re giving our officers the tools they need to deliver immediate results and providing communities the swift justice they deserve.”
Also on the table is a review of the statutory fees charged for the removal, storage, and disposal of vehicles. The government hopes this will ease the financial burden on forces and allow them to act more decisively when dealing with illegal riding or driving.
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Jo Shiner, welcomed the consultation, highlighting the long-term damage caused by street racing and off-road motorcycle and ATV activity, not just to property, but to public safety.
“We know that driving or riding in this way can also be used as a form of intimidation,” Shiner said. “Loud noise from engines or music, and deliberately creating large amounts of exhaust or tyre smoke can also be seen as an aggressive act.”
The changes are part of the government’s “Safer Streets” mission, with plans already in motion to introduce new “respect orders” targeting repeat offenders. Each police force in England and Wales is also set to appoint a dedicated lead for antisocial behaviour under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, launched in April.
While the measures won’t affect legal and responsible riders, the message seems clear: antisocial behaviour involving vehicles will be met with fast, firm action.
Find the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
