The moment police step in front of off-road bikes and shout 'stop' amid major crackdown

Surrounded by trees in the spring sunshine, this was the moment police brought off-road bikes to a halt in a Greater Manchester beauty spot. A major crackdown is underway to tackle the scourge of off-road bikes across the Wigan borough.

With 70 per cent of the Wigan borough being classed as green space, and with two canals running through it, police say a growing number of off-road bikes have been drawn to the area's footpaths and towpaths. Operation Handbrake has been launched by Greater Manchester Police and Wigan Council in a bid to combat the issue.

Video footage, captured by a GMP officer's body-worn camera, shows the moment two off-road bikes were brought to a halt on April 28. Officers can be seen running in front of the vehicles, with one heard shouting: "Stop where you are... turn the engine off."

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The officer adds: "You know you're not meant to be on here, don't you?" Officers seized three off-road bikes on the first day of Operation Handbrake, with one stolen bike recovered.

One section 59 warning - referring to a vehicle being used in a manner which causes alarm, distress or annoyance - and a notice of intended prosecution were sent out. Two people were also prosecuted for having no insurance.

Sergeant Dan Canavan, of GMP's neighbourhood policing team based in Leigh, said: “We want to create safer spaces in the community and with the help of our partners, we have undertaken a proactive and intelligence-led, highly visible operation, getting these dangerous bikes away from areas which residents enjoy. We’ve had several reports from members of the public who are fed up with off-road bikes and the