Dashcam footage released by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) shows the moment a biker in Oldham took a painful fall moments after nearly running over a woman during a police chase.
Police officers were pursuing the suspect through the streets of Oldham when he came within inches of mowing down a pedestrian crossing a road near a row of shops. He then continued leading officers through residential streets before approaching a park, where he fell to the ground while trying to ditch his moped.
Foot chase ends in surrender
The biker then led police on a bizarre "cat and mouse" foot chase, running around a building in circles before eventually giving up. The video was shared by GMP following a month of action in Oldham to tackle anti-social vehicle use.
Police Sergeant Tom Layton, from the Oldham Neighbourhood Team, said: "Tackling the anti-social use of off-road bikes, e-bikes and quad bikes is just one part of the work we are doing to keep Oldham's communities safe.
"These vehicles can be extremely dangerous when used irresponsibly. They are often ridden in places where people simply do not expect to encounter a motorbike or quad bike, creating obvious risks for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. A split-second decision can have serious consequences."
Operation Hurricane results
Posting the footage on social media, the force added: "A game of cat and mouse that ended with the mouse calling it quits." The footage shows just one example of the work the Oldham Neighbourhood Team has been carrying out as part of Operation Hurricane, a Greater Manchester-wide initiative tackling the dangerous and anti-social use of off-road bikes, e-bikes and quad bikes.
"The misuse of these vehicles isn't just a nuisance. They are often ridden recklessly through parks, footpaths and residential areas, putting pedestrians, families and other road users at risk. That's why our neighbourhood officers, working alongside specialist teams, have been conducting targeted operations across the borough, resulting in vehicle seizures, arrests, traffic offence reports and warnings.
"Neighbourhood officers are out every day listening to residents, acting on community concerns and taking positive action to make Oldham's streets safer for everyone."
Arrests and vehicle seizures
As a result of targeted activity carried out during August, the force said it had stopped 64 vehicles, issued seven section 59 warnings, 30 Traffic Offence Reports and seized 14 vehicles. Two individuals were reported for summons while six arrests were made - four for drug driving, one for dangerous driving and one for theft of a motor vehicle.
