The bikes were unceremoniously destroyed and the remnants recycled as part of Operation RIDA or Report Illegal Dirtbike Activity.

Chief Inspector Dave Robinson said that the first two bikes to be crushed under the operation were a big win for public safety.

"Since we launched the operation, Police have seized 60 unregistered bikes being used on public streets,” he said.

He added that while the operation was initially meant to target illegal dirtbikes, it has also had an impact on other local issues.

“What we have found is that 60 per cent of the bikes seized have turned out to be stolen and they have been returned to their rightful owners or insurance companies,” he said.

“We also found that a number of them were being used to run home-delivery methyl-amphetamine operations so it’s great to see that this operation is having an impact on local theft and the drug trade.”

While Chief Inspector Robinson said he recognised that there were people in the community who thought that confiscating and crushing bikes was a bit “harsh”, he said the benefits of the operation outweighed the criticism.

“Police do recognise that there are people out there who might view this action as extreme but, in respect to illegal bike activity in Cessnock, we recieve the highest volume of complaints about the issue – more than any other issue,” he said.

“Our action is also in response to the fact that 11 people – mostly young people – have died committing this offence in the Hunter Valley in the last decade – that’s about one per year.”

Chief Inspector Robinson was quick to praise the community, who had been overwhelmingly cooperative with police.

“This crushing last week has been in response to a great deal of information coming from the general public about where bikes are leaving from and returning to,” he said.

Information on illegal dirt bike activity should be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.