A Warwickshire councillor has launched a petition for "frustrated" police officers to be allowed to use off-road motorbikes to tackle rural crime.

Cllr Scott Cameron has claimed that officers from Warwickshire Police's Rural Crime Team have been "prevented from doing their job" by "bureaucracy", alleging that suspected offenders are not always pursued.

In a statement attached to his online petition, he said that off-road bikes had been used in the past and proved effective in navigating "difficult terrains quickly and effectively" but that crimes in "secluded and hard-to-reach areas where traditional patrol cars cannot operate effectively" have become harder to act on without the bikes.

Cllr Cameron added: "I have already contacted the Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Seccombe, who has advised that the off-road bikes were removed from service due to reaching the end of their usable life.

"This begs the question, why weren't replacements procured before this point to avoid a resource deficit?

"Having also spoken to officers on the Rural Crime Team, they explained that Warwickshire Police have been offered Surron off-road bikes free of charge, however bureaucracy is preventing this from happening.

"To me this seems like utter lunacy, focusing their priorities instead on drone technology.

"The officers I spoke to were very open and honest and are just as frustrated as we are that they are unable to fulfill the requirements of their job role effectively. They are all licensed to ride motorbikes, they have all completed the necessary police training, so why are they being prevented from doing their job?

"They also explained that before their off-road bike capability had been withdrawn, they were prevented from intercepting offenders and mentioned that they are being prevented from pursuing offenders, possibly through fear of the offender falling off and hurting themselves.

"As far as I am concerned, if you play stupid games you win stupid prizes. Let the officers pursue and intercept offenders.

"I'd even go so far as to say bolt a bull-bar to the front of their pick up trucks so they can intercept them with that if need be – if they get hurt, tough!

"Other police forces allow (pursuits), such as the Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley, so why won't Warwickshire?"

He cited statistics from the National Farmers' Union (NFU) estimating that rural crime costs the UK over £40 million per year "with the Midlands being among the most affected regions".

"By reinstating off-road bikes to Warwickshire's Rural Crime Team, we can significantly help reduce crime rates and restore the community's faith in their safety.

"Our picturesque countryside should be a haven of safety, not a hideout for criminals."

Warwickshire Police has been contacted for comment.

The online petition, which has gained more than 100 signatures in four days, can be found here.