Pedelec Police

[Ferdinand]

I've seen a few reports about police forces using Pedelecs - eg for PCSOs in the country.

Can anyone say how this was done, and what the results have been.

eg Are normal pedelecs used, or are they derestricted?
Is it patrol and presence, or also pursuit?
What are the advantages in real experience?

What I'm looking at is how law and order could be maintained on country trails were there to be a revolution and we were able to get rid of all the gates and barriers that make cycling these routes difficult for able bodied cyclists - thereby reducing use, and simply stopping many people going on there at all. Examples of teh latter would be mobility scooters, people on trikes, tandems, kids on trailers, people going shopping etc.

One of the objections will be about hooligans and criminals on motor bikes being able to get onto them, and the need to provide an alternative suggestion for policing. I say PCSOs on Pedelecs.

I have another thread about the issue itself.

Thanks

Ferdinand

 

[JohnCade]

I think several forces have been using them for a while. Just replacing the usual MBs cops ride in the cities though I imagine. They were using 250w ones just like every one else when they were technically illegal too.

I expect they pursue gang kids on MBs selling drugs and such at times. They can be hard for dibble to catch any other way.

 

[jonathan75]

I'm afraid any new duties for the police which don't involve chasing terrorists or paedophiles are a nonstarter- budgets are very squeezed and that's even before the true,massive cuts kick in.

 

[jonathan75]

But that's a good point about all those classes of users who can't use cycle tracks (including cyclists!)

You might be better arguing that the harms caused by the anti MB measures may outweigh the benefits and that derestriction to non MB users should be piloted in a single area,with users encouraged to film and shop MB miscreants.

 

[flecc]

The first adoption of e-bikes by police forces was in 2007, the bikes supplied being standard Wisper 905se models, this due to Wisper principal David Miall approaching forces. Subsequently other forces have adopted e-bikes, mostly Wisper for some while but I understand at least one force is using another make. The Wisper models could be altered by users to power to 18mph, but were not supplied that way.

There's also some adoption of unpowered bikes in busy urban areas for civil duties, for example in Central London both some police and paramedics use unpowered bikes for their greater speed through heavy traffic in getting to incidents. Some of the Metropolitan force officers cycling have found this an excellent way of catching up with drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seat belts, to issue penalty tickets. I believe the City of London force are also using unpowered bicycles.
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[Ferdinand]

I'm afraid any new duties for the police which don't involve chasing terrorists or paedophiles are a nonstarter- budgets are very squeezed and that's even before the true,massive cuts kick in.

Yes.

However, what do these things cost?

The simpler ones round here used to be mounted into two slabs of concrete each at precise angles - newer ones are the same but adjustable.

Checking, A or K barriers cost from around £400 to £800 from the supplier, so once installed it is £800 to £1500 plus any buggering about with the location to make it suitable. And that is the cheap version.

A PCSO on a pedelec costs £30 per hour all in (1) so for every one of these execresences we avoid having to buy we probably get a working week or more of PCSO Patrol.

My District has hundreds of the things, so it goes a long way towards the economics adding up. Stop any at all being installed, and we get perhaps 6 months of PCSO on Patrol. Plus the costs of not wasting Countryside Team time on pink elephants, which might give us another 2 man months of footpath building time.

I counted and one of my possible morning bike circuits has 20+ of the anti-cycling gates on it in about 15 miles on dedicated cycle paths and railway trails, and about a third on road.

Ferdinand

(1) http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2014-11-28/216460

 

[EddiePJ]

I've certainly seen them in regular use at Crowborough, Heathfield and East Grinstead.

 

[Kinninvie]

Our local police force have found a way round the latest cutbacks.

Found this as well

Our local ambulance service use this non powered bike.

 

[Nealh]

Where I work a newish chap is ex plod and another plod
(cycle plod) comes now and then so they can have a natter, when my bike is parked their he doesn't even notice its a pedelec or just isn't interested.

 

[Eaglerider]

Sussex Police use Freego Eagles and Wispers. I often see them about these days.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

As Flecc says, we first supplied Wispers to the North Welsh police in 2007 for patrolling the caravan sites. The Surrey Police bought their fleet of Wispers from E-Bikes Direct over four years ago, they were set to be replaced last year and again this, but they are still going strong on the same batteries, just goes to show if an ebike is used every day and well maintained they just don't go wrong!

 

[Ferdinand]

A further question if I may.

What is the normal process for getting eg PCSOs onto Pedelecs? A single one on a longish trial? Or something else.

I ask because I am trying to persuade my County Council (Derbyshire) to remove one or two K and A Barriers which prevent access for smoe classes of user to a particular bit of the NCN, and to a picnic / fishing area advertised as for all the family/accessible.

Part of the argument being made is (sigh) slightly tortuous about motorbikes and keeping them out. I am going to argue that a better and best practice solution is no barriers, more use by the public, and appropriate policing. County say they will consult Rangers and the PCSO.

Which brings me back to Pedelecs. How would the local PCSO, who walks everywhere, get an Ebike?

There are scores of miles of railway trial in the area, so I can see a benefit and extended reach.

Ferdinand

 

[flecc]

Tricky, given that the police forces are suffering large cash cutbacks and are under orders to produce economies.

Usually it's companies like Wisper who persuade a force to adopt a number of e-bikes for various explained advantages.

Probably the best approach currently would be to create a proposition that they would be an economy over present methods of being effective in specific areas of policing. Saving money while remaining effective is what UK policing is all about these days.
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[Blew it]

Gloucester Police certainly appear strapped for cash, they use whatever they can get their hands on.

RIAT 2015

 

[mcspreader]

Why do they need pedelec on an airfield? It is rather flat after all. Then again, perhaps they need some oomph to move the doughnuts round...

 

[flecc]

Gloucester Police certainly appear strapped for cash, they use whatever they can get their hands on.

RIAT 2015

Probably seized it after a raid on a museum!
.

 

[Gedge]

Why do they need pedelec on an airfield? It is rather flat after all. Then again, perhaps they need some oomph to move the doughnuts round...

Who says they 'need' them? Maybe they only get one bike for everything...sometimes they end up using them on the flat.....

 

[mcspreader]

Good point. In Cornwall, where I exist, steam power is still all the rage and that isn't so good on the flat

 

[Alan Quay]

Good point. In Cornwall, where I exist, steam power is still all the rage and that isn't so good on the flat

I didn't know Cornwall had been connected to the internet. Dearover.

 

[mcspreader]

I didn't know Cornwall had been connected to the internet. Dearover.

It hasn't. I run an extension lead over the Tamar.