BANGKOK - A police officer was injured when hit by a motorcycle and 27 street racers were arrested and 23 motorbikes seized in a police swoop in the early hours of Wednesday in Bangkok.

Pol Sub Lt Numchai Tharadol of Thong Lor police station  said they received a report that Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kowit Saengkaew, a 41-year-old traffic police officer, had been hit by a motorcycle on Rachadapisek Road, opposite of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, around 1am.

He said two people on the motorcycle, Pichitchai Ketkao, 25, and a 17-year-old girl whose name was withheld, were also hurt. The injured officer and the two suspected motorcycle gang members were taken to the Police General Hospital.

"When Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kowit attempted to stop the motorcycle for a search, the ride turned its headlight off, continued speeding and hit the officer," Pol Sub Lt Numchai said.

He said Pol Sen Sgt Maj Kowit suffered a broken right arm, bruised head and a dislocated shoulder while the motorcyclists were slightly injured.

Bangkok police arrest 27 suspected motorcycle gangsters and seize 23 motorcycles on Oct 24, 2012.(@fm91trafficpro photo)

At 3am on Din Deang, Sutthisarn and Vibhavadi roads, police arrested 27 motorcycle gang members and confiscated 23 motorcycles. Eight of the suspects were minors.

Pol Lt Colonel Sanong Saengmanee, traffic chief at Vibhavadi police station, said police know that motorcycle gangs usually gather on Oct 23 every year.

He said many of the motorcyclists had criminal and drug records.

National police chief Adul Seangsingkeaw said last week that a campaign had been launched to reduce motorcycle racing on the streets. It will include posters with aggressive messages to discourage illegal street racing.

Pol Gen Adul said uniformed and undercover officers will be deployed in areas where street racers like to gather and at auto shops and garages that provide services to young motorcyclists.

Commanding officers in each district will be in charge of shutting down races. The officers must not be armed and there must be enough illumination to ensure no mistreatment of the youngsters, he added.

Police would regularly visit known offenders' homes to check on them and parents would be informed that their children would be charged if caught street racing again.

People can place complaints and reports on street racing via the police 1599 hotline.

Pol Gen Adul said police also planned to buy specially designed spikes to safely pop the tyres of annoying motorcycle street racers.

The device was a 4.5 metre mechanical arm that releases sharpened spikes designed to puncture and flatten motorcycle tyres slowly. 

The price is 13,500 baht per unit, compared with the 18,000 baht cost of similar spikes used to stop cars.

The video clip below, uploaded to Youtube by Jummania, shows teenage motorcycle gangsters racing on the Bangkok street.