Police use of bicycles – situation paper

Report: 8
Date: 8 October 2004
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report sets out the current situation with regard to the use of bicycles for operational policing use.

A. Recommendations

That the report be noted.

B. Background

1. Pedal cycle police patrols offer opportunities for increased visibility and public reassurance, proactive targeting of street crime and anti social behaviour and new tactics for policing events. In recent years, Borough Commanders have substantially increased the number of pedal cycles available for use for the above. With the growth of reassurance policing, boroughs have indicated they plan to develop the use of pedal cycles further.

C. Supporting information

2. Twenty-two Organisational Command Units (OCUs) currently deploy pedal cycles for policing activity; two have cycles on order. A further eight have plans to purchase and deploy in the next twelve months.

3. Boroughs deploy a variety of deployment options to meet local needs. These include dedicated cycle teams with bespoke tasking that patrol daily and community officers and tasking teams who use them as a tactical option. Duties include ward and high visibility patrolling; crime enquiries; proactive operations re burglary, auto crime and street crime, anti social behaviour and truancy patrols and answering calls. Feedback from the public has been generally favourable.

4. Research in 2003 developed a specification of a bespoke Metropolitan Police patrolling cycle that conforms to Health and Safety risk assessments. The cycle has been evaluated by Transport Services Department for policing use. A procurement process for the supply and delivery of 450 mountain bikes to this specification over a 3-year period commenced on 1 June 2004. Invitations to tender have gone out and responses will be evaluated in December 2004. It is anticipated that the cycles will be available for order from February 2005. This will address the projected demand from boroughs.

5. Following a risk assessment of police riding of pedal cycles, modular training has been developed. This training will meet borough performance requirements within manageable abstraction times and will be mandatory.

6. There is an expectation that officers on foot or pedal cycles respond to incidents if they are nearby and are able to do so safely.

D. Race and equality impact

Training will be modular to allow flexible access to all staff. Pedal cycles purchased through Procurement Service allow for a range of sizes and fit for male and female staff as does clothing. Standard Operating Procedures are in the process of being written and will be subject to Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2002 assessment.

E. Financial implications

The purchase and maintenance costs of cycles and clothing for officers and staff will be met by boroughs from within their own budgets. Current practice is to meet purchase costs by using partnership or sponsorship funding.

Delivery of training by the Physical Education Department will be met within existing budgets.

F. Background papers

None

G. Contact details

Report author: David McLaren Inspector Traffic and Transport Branch

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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