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Pedal power police patrols

Date published: 24 February 2010

Officers from Rochdale South Neighbourhood Policing Team are better equipped to patrol thanks to a donation of £1000 from Rochdale Borough Council for the purchase of six new pedal bikes.

Sergeant Shoheb Chowdhury, speaking for Rochdale South Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “These bikes are an asset to the team. They make patrolling communities easier as officers can cover more ground, respond to incidents quicker and remain at the heart of the community.

“They are an extra tool in our fight on crime and will be put to good use by all our team.

“The advantage of bikes is that we are able to sneak up quietly on suspected criminals and can get to places that cars can’t reach like parks and back alleyways.”

Councillor Dale Mulgrew, deputy leader of Rochdale Council, said: “Rochdale Township are pleased to help towards the purchase of the bikes. Clearly this will aid police with their patrols, ensuring a reassuring visibility at the street level.

“I am also delighted that Sergeant Chowdhury has shopped local by purchasing these bikes from a Rochdale based retailer."

Comments

I cannot see why they ever did away with the 'Bobby-on-the-bike' in the first place. In cities like Amsterdam, London and many others, the humble cycle plays an important role in police work.
Incidently, what happened to the town's cycle-paramedic?

So let me get this right. Rochdale Council, that is so broke it needs to raise council tax by 4% and needs to find £100m in savings, can afford to donate £1000 to GMP for bikes.
Meanwhile GMP, that has a budget of £550m a year, has an automatic council tax precept rise of 7% and is happy spending £27,000 on name badges, gets them for nothing.
The only mugs in this are council tax payers.

Why couldn't the police fund their own purchase of 6 bikes, why have the council been generous with tax payers money?
The residents are already charged for police services in the council tax.

From what I can see, the Police Authority have had rises of 5%, 7.5% and a further 7.5% over the last three years from Council Tax.
Why does Councillor Dale Mulgrew, deputy leader of Rochdale Council, want to make a further donation of £1000, from Rochdale Borough Council, towards the purchase of the bikes.
Is someone trying to say that efficiency savings to the tune of £1000 cannot be made by the police locally?
Collect all that is due, then consider largesse.