Durham Constabulary has pledged to use every tool to target off-road bikes as part of Operation Endurance, according to police. ' He added, 'Where we are lacking is where they are ending up at the end of the day. ' Police face ongoing challenges in tackling off-road biking, particularly in apprehending riders on bikes.
' The exact number of incidents of off-road biking reported in Darlington recently is not known. Concurrently, police have vowed to crack down on illegal nitrous oxide use in the North East town, according to Durham Constabulary. The force will collaborate with Darlington Borough Council and local residents to tackle nitrous oxide use.
It's very easy to acquire on the internet. People can do a quick search and find it in huge quantities. It's a very difficult problem to solve.
Nitrous oxide use is a pressing issue in the area, including at Faverdale Industrial Estate. Inspector Littlefair said, 'That is a key location we will be targeting with road policing and the teams in Darlington. The illegal use of nitrous oxide is a concern.
We will look into the use and purchase of nitrous oxide. That is a priority with licensing. ' Councillor David Beckett for Brinkburn and Faverdale remarked, 'It's very easy to acquire on the internet.
That is a key location we will be targeting with road policing and the teams in Darlington. The illegal use of nitrous oxide is a concern. We will look into the use and purchase of nitrous oxide. That is a priority with licensing. Preventative measures to stop it from being purchased in the first place needs to be done.
People can do a quick search and find it in huge quantities. ' Specific preventative measures to stop the purchase of nitrous oxide have not been detailed. Nitrous oxide was outlawed in the UK in November 2023 under the government's Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan.
Its use has been associated with a rise in anti-social behaviour in local communities. Direct inhalation from canisters can cause freeze burns to the hand, and excessive consumption can lead to fainting, unconsciousness, or suffocation. Police have seized huge boxes of nitrous oxide outside their station.
Inspector Littlefair confirmed, 'Outside our police station, we have huge boxes that have just been seized. ' Darlington Borough Council has drawn up a new plan to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. The plan aims to ensure Darlington is a safe place to live and free from disorder, with priorities including community cohesion, drugs and substance misuse, domestic abuse, and sexual violence.
A recent residents' survey found that concerns over safety increased in the past year due to a rise in local incidents. The timeline for implementing this new plan is unclear.