The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), working with the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), calls for clearer guidance and reassurance on the enforcement by the police of Section 59 motorbike seizures designed to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Rider reports prompt letters to the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Policing Minister over misuse of Section 59 powers

The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has called for clearer guidance for front line police officers to be issued, following reports of motorcycles being seized, or riders threatened with seizure, in circumstances that appear to fall outside the intended scope of strengthened Section 59 powers. These were introduced as part of the Policing and Crime Act 2026.

Since the removal of the prior-warning requirement in June 2026, NMC organisations the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) and Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF) have received member reports raising concerns about how the powers are being applied.

Examples reported to the BMF include seizures or threats of seizure over non-standard registration plates, noise from OEM factory-fitted quick-shifters and auto-blippers, and riders filtering through traffic.

The TRF is concerned that the removal of the prior-warning requirement could lead to Section 59 being used against motorcyclists undertaking lawful trail riding on public rights of way (green roads) where motor vehicle use is legally permitted.

The NMC and TRF strongly support action against illegal off-road riding, damage to land and genuinely anti-social behaviour. However, lawful trail riding on the UK’s around 6,000 miles of green roads where vehicular access is permitted, should not be discouraged or curtailed merely because some members of the public might have a personal objection to motorcycles using these legal routes and raise a nuisance complaint.

A high proportion of illegal ‘off road motorcycling’ may actually involve illegally used high powered eBikes in a range of settings, both urban and rural. We are concerned this is being conflated in the public consciousness with legal motorcycling on legally accessible green roads, where incorrect assumptions may be drawn by some individuals.

The NMC has written to the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Policing Minister seeking updated operational guidance to ensure that front line officers apply Section 59 lawfully and consistently.

NMC Executive Director Craig Carey-Clinch said: “Police need effective powers to tackle dangerous and anti-social vehicle use, and we support proportionate enforcement against behaviour that threatens public safety or causes genuine nuisance.

“But removing the requirement for a warning before seizure makes clear guidance, safeguards and accountability essential. Riders must not risk losing their motorcycles simply because someone objects to lawful riding, or because they may have committed a minor offence which does not involve anti-social or dangerous behaviour.”

Section 59 requires reasonable grounds to believe that a vehicle’s use both contravenes Section 3 or Section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and causes, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress or annoyance to the public. Both conditions must be met.

The NMC warns that inappropriate enforcement risks undermining confidence in the police and damaging relationships with responsible motorcyclists.

Link to previous BMF articles can be found here

More information about the National Motorcyclists Council and its members can be found here

For further information or comment please contact

Craig Carey-Clinch | 07979 757484 (NMC)

Paul Morgan MBE BMF Government Relations Executive