As part of ongoing efforts to reduce motorcycle-related deaths and serious injuries on the roads of North Wales officers from the Roads Crime Unit held a special operation over the weekend using the NPAS (National Police Air Service) fixed wing aircraft.

Officers in marked and unmarked cars targeted the A494, A5 and A487 in the Gwynedd South area on Sunday, 9 June - roads which feature in KSI (killed or seriously injured) statistics in the area.

Temporary Sergeant Leigh McCann of the Roads Crime Unit said, “The aircraft was useful in locating and directing officers on the ground to areas where motorcycles were seen being ridden in an anti-social manner.

“Thankfully, the majority of road users were compliant with the law, however, those using the roads unlawfully were spoken to and dealt with by officers.

“Several tickets were issued for offences such as excess speed, illegal number plates, no ‘L’ plates on motorcycles, no insurance, defective exhausts and lights and driving without due care and attention. Officers also dealt with two damage-only road traffic collisions.

“We are grateful to our NPAS colleagues for providing us with an eye in the sky. They were able to provide our teams with live data – highlighting areas where motorcyclists were gathering, and more importantly, highlighting where motorcyclists were seen riding anti-socially.

T/Sgt McCann added: “Reducing casualties on our roads remains one of our top priorities. We will continue to focus our enforcement in an attempt to reduce any further casualties and collisions by adopting a zero-tolerance approach. However, I’d like to thank the majority of the motoring public who adhered to the rules of the road.”