DISCREET cameras could be deployed on trees in secluded green areas as police vow to crack down on joyriding in Gorse Hill and Pinehurst.

Last summer, motorcycles being ridden off road in some of the local parks and fields caused a nuisance to residents, and officers will now turn to host of new measures to cut out the practice as the warm weather sets in.

Often, the bikes seized by police have been stolen, and the offenders identified as they have not been wearing cycle helmets.

With a new type of camera available to trial, policing teams will be able to apply for four-week periods when they can place the undercover cameras in spots which have seen the most incidents.

New motorcycle gates have also been installed around the parks which have historically been used as tracks for offenders, and the broadening of sec 35 powers will allow officers to disperse troublesome offenders.

Sgt Dave Flynn, of the North Central policing team, said the cameras are being rolled out as a trial, and will only be deployed when justified.

"The council have now got funding for a new type of camera to trial, and we are going to be applying for some of those," he said.

"The council teams have also now started fitting motorcycle gates around some of the problem areas, like The Venney, at the entrances on Pinehurst Road and May Close.

"That should at least keep them to one side of Pinehurst.

"We can also use the change in the sec 35 powers, which is a dispersal order. Under the old powers, there had to be alcohol involved and there had to be a pre-planned incident.

"Now, we can use those powers with teenagers on motorbikes and temporarily ban them from the area.

"We have a monthly anti-social-behaviour meeting, and if we see more incidents at a particular park or field, then the camera can be deployed in that location.

"If we can justify it we can use the camera for four weeks at a time.

"Often when we bring someone to court for these offences they have been identified because they have not been wearing helmets and have been recognised, but this sort of equipment will be useful in the more difficult cases."

Patrols in the areas will be increased, and police are renewing their call for residents to report any incidents they find.

Last summer, seven motorcycles were seized by police, and eight offenders were brought through court, with a total of £1,690 in fines and 32 points on their licenses.

Two of the culprits were disqualified from getting a driving license in the future.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: "Traditionally the summer months will see a rise in the fields between Pinehurst and Gorsehill being used by off road bikes.

"This is illegal, is dangerous for the rider, children and public who use these areas and very often the bikes that we have seized turn out to be stolen.

"We receive regular complaints regarding the issue. We will be continuing to use the CCTV network in the area to catch offenders and on the green areas where there have not been cameras in the past, we will be using discreet deployable cameras which can be used in fields and wooded areas and are very inconspicuous and should provide some good evidence.

"Despite our regular patrols we will still rely on the residents in the area to also call us when this is happening even if this does not result in the offenders being caught at the time we can still review CCTV footage to identify riders."

Anyone with information about anti-social-behaviour or joyriding in their area should contact their neighbourhood policing team on 101.