Police urge riders be seen be safe

Date published: 24 October 2007

Greater Manchester Police’s Mounted Unit is urging horse riders to ensure they can be seen as the dark evenings arrive this weekend.

As the clocks go back on Sunday, afternoons will become dark and police officers are urging riders to follow their example and "be safe, be seen’. The safety of police horses and riders is a top priority, which is why they wear high visibility equipment and clothing both at night and during the day.

Chief Inspector Lynn Roby, head of the mounted unit, said: "We have been campaigning for people to follow our example and ensure they can be seen by motorists. It is particularly important when the clocks change.

"We patrol some of the busiest routes in Greater Manchester and it is important that motorists can see us. But we also need motorists to be aware that they are more likely to meet a police horse during the busy rush hour in the dark. The simple message to motorists is to pass horse and rider wide and slow."

GMP’s mounted unit has produced a poster and leaflet to support the safety campaign, which features horses in fluorescent and reflective gear. It can be downloaded at the GMP website www.gmp.police.uk click About Us and then the mounted unit pages.

Greater Manchester Police has 35 horses that cover around 95,000 miles each year on local roads.