AT the half-way point of a summer crackdown on the criminal and anti-social use of scrambler bikes across Merseyside, police are reporting significant success.

To date, officers have seized 26 scrambler and quad bikes, recovered 57 stolen motorcycles and made 21 arrests.

And more than 830 calls have been received from the public to report an offence.

Operation Brookdale was launched on July 1 to tackle problems caused for communities by scramblers and other machines being riden recklessly.

​​Superintendent Jenny Sims said: “We are at the half-way point of our operation and have made significant inroads in disrupting those who using these bikes – so far we’ve taken 26 of these bikes of the streets and arrested 21 people who were using them illegally.

​“As the summer rolls on, we will continue to use a variety of tactics to target those involved in this type of crime.

"As the light nights continue, there is a likelihood riders of these bikes may be tempted to ride them more often, causing further disruption and misery to our communities and we just won’t tolerate it.

“We have executed a number of warrants and had a number of seizures, but we are not complacent and I want to reiterate my warning to those people who continue to use these bikes illegally, that our activity will not stop - your bikes will be seized and you may end up before the courts."

She added: "I’d also like to re-appeal to the local community to tell us where these bikes are being stored and who is using the, so we can take action and take these bikes out of circulation.”

Operation Brookdale has seen:

High-visibility police patrols, including officers on scramblers and quad bikes, on roads, parkland and other public spaces.

Use of the National Police Air Service helicopter to act as an eye in the sky.

Plain clothes patrols.

The use of locally gathered intelligence to target places where illegal bikers are known to ride.

Enforcement of traffic law to restrict the activities of legal riders on our roads.

Education in schools about the dangers of these bikes and the laws surrounding their use.

Visits to petrol stations by officers and PCSOs.