New laws to help police deal with off-road and electric bike crime are needed with current legislation described as ‘insufficient’ by one officer.

Inspector David Rourke told a meeting of Midlothian Police and Fire Rescue Board that the powers available to officers needed to be modernised to recognise the growing use of bikes in criminal and antisocial behaviour.

His comments came after Councillor Peter Smaill raised concerns about the lack of reporting in police reports of incidents involving off-road bikes and e-bikes,

Councillor Smaill said in one case a farmer’s field had been damaged by bikes and, despite CCTV allegedly being available from a nearby filling station, nothing appeared to have been followed up.

He said: “I want to talk about this whole problem of guys on bikes do

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