Police take the saddle
Buckle up, Wellington – fluorowearing bicycle cops will be keeping an eye out for anyone not wearing a seatbelt.
Wellington police officers have been equipped with bicycles to patrol the city’s streets and get a head above the crowds.
The four officers on the capital’s community police team currently spend their days patrolling the area on foot, watching the city’s Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage, as well as checking in with local businesses and Victoria University.
Sergeant Hamish Knight, who leads the community policing team, said soon they would cycle through town, pursuing offenders and pulling up alongside cars at traffic lights.
When riding a bicycle, it was possible to ‘‘see that person without a seatbelt on, see that person texting on a phone’’, Knight said.
The concept is not new, with police in Auckland, Huntly and Nelson also using two wheels.
Knight said it was important that Wellington’s officers moved with the city’s growing cycle infrastructure.
The four entry-level mountain bikes would be available to all police who passed Greater Wellington Regional Council’s cycle training course. It would teach riders to signal their intentions early, to look over their shoulder, and create space on the road.
‘‘I would like to see us clocking
‘Being able to weave through traffic might place them at an advantage over patrol cars.’
Sergeant Hamish Knight
around 20 to 30 kilometres a week. It’s up to the teams to think about how they can use these.’’
The stealth of a bicycle – compared to a V6 Holden engine – leant itself to silent suburban patrol, he said.
There were no flashing, blue and red lights attached to the black bikes, so officers would likely pull over vehicles with a wave of their hand or a tap on the window.
And they’ll give chase. Knight said being able to weave through traffic might place them at an advantage over traditional patrol cars. The officers would wear stab-proof vests and carry all the necessary gear on the belts holding up their shorts.
Fluoro helmets and a marked high-visibility vest would help them stand out, so they didn’t expect to receive the same flak from drivers as commuting cyclists might.
But they are prepared to feature on a few social media posts while on weekend shifts.
Wellington City councillor Sarah Free, who holds the capital’s public transport, cycling and walking portfolio, said the council had provided maintenance gear and bottle holders for the bicycles to support the police’s move.
‘‘They’ll be able to get places where regular police cars can’t get too ... they’ll be more agile and be able to respond more quickly. This will be a great way of making sure this city is just a bit safer.’’