Merseyside Police issue advice to motorcycle riders heading to Isle of Man TT

Merseyside is gearing up to welcome thousands of motorcyclists and race fans from across the world for the annual Isle of Man TT Races.

Merseyside Police are reminding visitors to secure their motorcycles while travelling through the region.

The event which runs from 25 May until 6 June has race fans stopping in Liverpool with their motorcycles before they continue their journey via ferry from Liverpool to the Isle of Man.

In the lead up to the event, riders and spectators travelling to the Isle of Man traditionally pass through the region, with many stopping in Liverpool and across the Merseyside area before continuing their journey across the Irish Sea.  TT fans bring a lively atmosphere to local businesses and the waterfront as Liverpool plays host to visitors passing through with our officers working hard to keep motorcycles safe, offering extra patrols and guidance to anyone with a motorcycle.

Sergeant Craig Winstanley said:

“You will see a visible presence of more officers in the city during Op Needle, working with partners and local businesses, hotels, and car parks to ensure that CCTV and the network of communication across the city is fully utilised to keep safety at the forefront of our operation.

“In recent years, targeting offenders, providing extra attention and working with bikers and businesses has reduced offences. Last year, not a single motorbike was stolen from the City Centre. We want the same outcome this year, but we are also asking bikers to make sure they leave details at the hotels about their motorcycles so that should we find any motorbikes or need to speak with an owner it is a lot easier for everyone.”

Working with other agencies and local hotels and car parks Op Needle is making sure the thousands of visitors to the city have an enjoyable and safe trip by targeting resources in the areas where they are most needed where motorcycles are parked while their riders relax and take in this historic and vibrant city. As well as working with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Business Improvement District (Liverpool Bid) with funding from the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and The Motorcycle Action Group Ltd officers have been able to access more ways of preventing motorcycle crime through using Safer S1 and S4 Pods in hotel carparks, Oxford Bike chains distributed to several hotels, along with throttle locks and the use of SelectaDNA marking kits.

Michelle Nichols from The National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership said:

“We are proud to support Operation Needle and the proactive work being carried out by Merseyside Police and partners to help keep visiting motorcyclists safe during this year’s Isle of Man TT.”

The focus of Op Needle is to prevent theft of and from motorcycles, reassure motorcyclists and visitors to Liverpool City Centre, identify, disrupt and find those involved in the theft of and from motorcycles. 

Sergeant Craig Winstanley said:

“Liverpool is a fantastic city, holding Purple Flag status as one of the safest cities in the world, and we want everyone visiting to experience this and also take sensible steps to look after their own motorcycles and report any issues or concerns to us.

“We want everyone to enjoy our great city and watch out for each other so please do contact us if you see any suspicious activity.”

Find out more on the Merseyside Police website.

Find out what’s on in Liverpool this week here.

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