Merseyside Police enhance security measures ahead of the Isle of Man TT

Liverpool City Council, in partnership with Merseyside Police and other key stakeholders, has implemented a series of enhanced security measures in anticipation of the arrival of thousands of motorcyclists and racegoers visiting the city en route to the Isle of Man TT Races.

The internationally renowned event, taking place from Monday 26 May to Saturday 7 June, will once again see Liverpool serve as a key transit hub, with many riders and spectators stopping in the city before boarding ferries to the Isle of Man. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors and residents alike, Merseyside Police has launched Operation Needle, a dedicated initiative targeting motorcycle-related crime and enhancing public safety throughout the city centre. This operation has been developed in close collaboration with Liverpool City Council, Liverpool BID Company, Lancashire Constabulary, Isle of Man Constabulary, and various departments within Merseyside Police.

Operation Needle focuses on three core objectives:

Preventing theft of and from motorcycles
Reassuring riders and visitors
Identifying, disrupting, and prosecuting offenders involved in motorcycle-related crime

Thanks to financial support from the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership (NVCRP), the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), and the Motorcycle Action Group Foundation, a series of enhanced security features are being rolled out across the city.

These include:

Installation of additional barriers near hotels and key parking zones
Deployment of electronic detection equipment to monitor activity and detect suspicious behaviour
Distribution of Oxford heavy-duty bike chains to hotels for use by motorcyclists
Increased police visibility and patrols in high-footfall and high-risk areas

The green light for this proactive approach follows encouraging results from previous years. Reported thefts of motorcycles in Liverpool during the TT event were reduced from 12 in 2022 to just five in both 2023 and 2024. Thanks to coordinated efforts by the partnership, three of the five motorcycles stolen last year were successfully recovered and returned to their owners.

Sergeant Craig Winstanley, from Op Needle, said:

“Our officers will be out in the city centre to ensure riders are advised where to park safely and how to secure their motorcycles to help prevent crime.

“We have had successful operations in recent years, with thefts of motorcycles cut from 2022, and this year, thanks to support from the NVCRP, BMF and Motorcycle Action Group Foundation, we will have more measures than ever to help protect bike owners from theft.

“Liverpool is a fantastic city and we want everyone visiting to remember their time here for the right reasons. We ask that riders make use of the tools available look after their motorcycles and report any issues or concerns to us.

“You will see more officers in the city with local businesses, hotels and car parks working with us to put safety measures in place and ensure that CCTV and the network of communication across the city is fully utilised to keep safety at the forefront of our operation.

“We returned three out of five stolen bikes last year to their grateful owners, and we now ask bikers to make sure they leave details at the hotels about their motorcycles. If they do, it makes the process of reuniting the rider with their bike far easier and quicker should we recover it.

“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.”

Mark Kameen, NVCRP Project Lead, said:

“Supporting safer motorcycle parking during the Isle of Man TT is a great example of what can be achieved through an effective partnership response.

“The NVCRP are proud to be partnering with Merseyside Police, the Motorcycle Action Group Foundation and the British Motorcyclists Federation, to help ensure riders can enjoy Liverpool with greater peace of mind.

“Motorcyclists can sometimes be overlooked when tackling organised vehicle crime, so I’m delighted to see the efforts Merseyside Police are taking with this initiative.

“It is vital that we continue to invest in motorcycle safety and security and this is another positive example of how public/private sector funding initiatives can provide real benefits in tackling organised vehicle crime.”