Cycle Crime initiative

Introduction and Background

The cycle team and cycle crime initiative was set up by Area Officer Mat Harvey and became fully operational in July 2006. The team currently consists of 4 Special Constables and a supervisor and is based at Bath Police Station.

The primary objective of this initiative was to provide a highly mobile and visible police presence throughout the city with patrols focussing on areas of high volume cycle use and areas of community concern. The team were also keen to deliver safer cycling and cycle crime reduction messages.

A number of fully police -marked mountain bikes for use by the team were made available by the sector and funding for the team’s cycle kit and running costs was gained by kind donations received from several local cycle shops and Powabyke (who also gave the team the opportunity to trial one of their products).

The kind donation received from Powabyke enabled the purchase of 4 sets of cycle trousers and force polo shirts and funded kit for an additional officer to join the team.

The cycle team’s work in 2006

Between June and October 2006 the team undertook numerous patrols throughout the city and spent time engaging with youths and children at the play area and stunt ramps in Bath’s Royal Victoria Park.

During this time the team also;

·         Held crime reduction surgeries at all 6 of Baths cycle shops

·         Made two visits to Bath Spa railway station, working in partnership with British Transport Police

·         Held two highly successful ‘Community Contact’ days in Bath city centre.

·         Handed out almost 800 pieces of crime reduction material and marked a number of bicycles with wrap around security strips.

More recently, the team was nominated by Avon and Somerset Constabulary for the Arthur Ellis Trophy. This is a regional award for Policing initiatives in the community.

The Future

The team is looking forward to continuing and expanding its work in 2007 and is aiming to build further on the success of this year’s project.

In 2007 we are looking to;

• Bid for funding to increase the team by a further 8 officers bringing the teams strength to 13.
• Making a number of school visits in January 2007 to meet with pupils and staff and security mark their property.
• Hold bi monthly ‘community contact days’ in Bath city centre.
• Hold ‘within the workplace’ crime reduction surgeries with some of Baths most prominent employers.

POWABYKE TRIAL

The Powabyke I was given to trial was on the whole, a pleasure to use.

As a more traditional cyclist, I found myself inclined to pedal more often than not unassisted. It took a little time for me to get grips with the simple concept of the bike but after a few hiccups and a couple of cross words, the bike and I got on well.

In general, I found the riding position, handle bar grips and saddle comfortable, which always makes a longer journey a little easier. Brakes and gears were set up well and comfortable to use and I found the bike to be fairly manoeuvrable.

The Powabyke was stable on the well designed centre stand but the extra weight would take a little while to get use to.

The battery unit was lighter than I had been expecting and could be inserted and removed from the frame with ease. However, finding somewhere to charge the battery and making sure the unit wasn’t switched off whilst on charge, proved more of a challenge.

I decided to trial the Powabyke in three different environments.  During my rides in the City Centre, I struggled a little and tended to pedal unassisted. The bike really came into its own during my rides over a longer distance and in the more ‘geographically challenging’ areas of Bath. I liked the duality of the powered modes, but didn’t attempt to switch between modes whilst riding. I tended to have constant assistance when pedalling uphill and the motor cut out option when riding longer, flatter distances.

From a Policing perspective, I believe the use of a powabyke would be an excellent mode of transport for both Police and PCSOs to patrol their beat areas. Beat managers or PCSOs with a geographically large or challenging area to cover would, I believe, welcome and make full use of a Powabyke.

Area Officer Mathew Harvey – 5617