POLICE are cracking down on bikers in East Yorkshire with illegal number plates.

Motorcyclists have been seen in the area driving at excessive speed with miniature number plates. These plates are illegal and are fitted deliberately to avoid detection by speed cameras.

Humberside Police believe the problem will get worse as summer approaches and more motorbikes are on the roads. To tackle the problem they have launched a campaign to stop these bikers, who are putting themselves and others at risk.

The police are promising to get tough and prosecute motorcyclists with illegal number plates by targeting specific routes, and holding individual motorbike checks and roadside checks. The scheme aims to make it harder for motorcyclists to break speed limits in order to reduce casualties.

A police spokeswoman said: "The campaign is directed at motorcyclists because of the alarming increase in serious injuries combined with evidence of the increased illegal number plate use. In most cases the use of such number plates is a deliberate attempt to evade detection for traffic offences. Many complaints are received about the speed some motorcyclists travel in rural areas. Speed alone is a contributory factor in nearly two out of three fatal road incidents.

"Small misaligned number plates make it difficult to identify speeding motorcyclists and therefore they remain a danger on our roads."

Updated: 09:43 Friday, April 18, 2003