POLICE have vowed to crack down on illegal off-road bike use and anti-social behaviour in Newport.

City council members raised concerns over young people riding motorcycles and off-road bikes on pavements, racing and causing risks to pedestrians and other drivers alike at a full council meeting on Tuesday, July 25.

Gwent Police chief inspector Dave Morgan was on hand to listen to members' concerns and said dealing with anti-social behaviour and dangerous use of off-road bikes was a priority for policing teams across the city.

Bettws ward member and leader of the Newport Independents Party Cllr Kevin Whitehead said "We seem to have a problem with this 24-7.

"I don't know why.

"These kids are riding around and pulling wheelies.

"It really is becoming a massive issue in Bettws."

And the council's deputy leader Cllr Mark Whitcutt said he had recently witnessed a group of young people outside the Maesglas shops in Cardiff Road "doing wheelies and generally behaving in a silly manner".

"This is not a unique event," he said. "It is something that happens on a regular occasion, along with racing."

Chief Insp Morgan said "a lot of work" was being done to crack down on the problem.

"Off-road bikes is a problem, not just in Bettws, but across the city and across Gwent," he said.

"It does often come down to identifying who the offenders are."

He said members of the community could help stamp out the problem by letting police know if they knew who the culprits are.

"It is a problem but it is being addressed," he said.

Off-road bikes can be driven on roads as long as the vehicle is taxed, insured and the driver has a driving licence. They can also be driven Byways Open to all Traffic, or BOATS, and on private land with the owner's permission.

But driving on private land without permission, as well as pavements, common land, footpaths, bridleways, canal tow paths and disused railways lines is illegal.

Police have the power to seize any vehicle breaching these rules and the driver can be prosecuted if they are found to have driven on a road without insurance or a driving licence, as well as for careless or dangerous driving, driving without due care or attention or driving on common land.

Police can also issue Section 12 notices to anyone caught driving on private land without permission and can seize the vehicle of anyone receiving two of these notices in a 12 month period. The owner must then pay to get it back, or it will be crushed.

Report any illegal off-road bike use to police call 101. Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org. In an emergency always call 999.