They’re well within their rights to send the letter like and under the civil laws of trespass they can attempt a civil prosecution. I very much doubt it would get anywhere in court with the evidence they have. I think few if any prosecutions ever occur for trespass of this kind anyway.
If they don’t want you riding on their land, that’s that. Though I support a push to more open access on bikes to land that’s obviously available to the public for any other purpose, including horse riding. I’m a fan of cheeky riding too if it’s causing no harm.
Have to admit I’m conflicted between using the likes of Strava and publishing less legitimate trails, though more because so many people are turning up now to try the trails and things are getting to breaking point in places.
boxelder
Principle
Part V Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (CJPOA) s 61-80 conferred powers on the police and created offences in connection with various forms of trespass, including:
mass trespass
trespass by hunt saboteurs
trespass by squatters
nuisance caused by raves.
The Act also introduced powers to direct trespassers to leave land and amended existing legislation in relation to the use of violence to secure entry to premises.
Curious that mess trespass is now an offence. I didn’t know that.
I assume that’s to stop a repeat of what the walkers achieved. They did a mass trespass and won all the public rights of way for themselves.
Seriously been thinking we need a similar act for bikes, but if it’s an offence now that makes it illegal, not just an irritation that the government would be forced to give in to (though unlike walkers we’re not well represented in the wider community and government).