Budget cuts mean Bromley police officers must patrol on foot
8:33am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News By Robert Fisk
The police cannot afford the bike maintenance costs
PROMISES to protect frontline policing despite cuts to the Met Police budget seem to have been broken in Bromley.
It has emerged the cuts mean Bromley police do not have the £18,000 needed to put the 120 bicycles used by safer neighbourhood teams through their annual bike maintenance checks.
This means PCSOs and other officers who would have been able to get around more quickly by bike are having to patrol on foot.
Bickley safer neighbourhood panel chairman John Bruce is concerned about the effect this is having on policing in the area.
In an email to other panel chairmen and women he said: “At a safer neighbourhood panel meeting in July I was made aware that since May almost all bicycles used by safer neighbourhood teams have been withdrawn from use as they have been deemed unroadworthy.
“I gather Councillor Tim Stevens raised the matter and was told that as this is a health and safety issue nothing could be done until the bikes were roadworthy.
“It does strike me as ludicrous that street patrolling effectiveness should be reduced so dramatically just at the time that other events (like the Jubilee and Olympics) are hitting manpower.”
Cray Valley East safer neighbourhood panel chairman Harold Barker shares Mr Bruce’s concerns.
Mr Barker said: “In the Crays we are dealing with youth crime problems and the police need to be mobile to get here when crime is happening.
“I believe if they cannot use their bikes then it will create a situation where they cannot effectively reduce crime.”
Portfolio holder for public protection and safety Cllr Stevens said: “I’m aware there is a problem with police bikes in the borough and I have taken the matter up with the borough commander who assures me there are still some bikes available for the safer neighbourhood teams to use.”
A Bromley police spokesman said: “The problem is due to a central Met Police contract and we are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Comments(20)
Have your say
says...
9:10am Wed 5 Sep 12
Bobby's walking the street well it's about time I am sick to death that every time I see a patrolling police car it's 3 or 4 up because they don't want to walk.
Walking will also keep them fit I can't remember the last time I saw a healthy cop especially the women.
Being on the beat gives the public a bit more reassurance and the coppers glean more information and know what's going on FACT
Eagles_Man
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9:26am Wed 5 Sep 12
So in fact it's not 'budget cuts' that are the villain here, but elf'n'safety and Met bureaucracy.
Citygirl83
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9:28am Wed 5 Sep 12
Carparkattendant
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9:36am Wed 5 Sep 12
Citygirl83 wrote:Please explain
@ Have your say, you are playing a bit of a dangerous game there aren't you?
joertmclark
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10:35am Wed 5 Sep 12
Guess who ;) AGAIN !
says...
11:47am Wed 5 Sep 12
A no brainer I'd of thought.
Citygirl83
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1:03pm Wed 5 Sep 12
Carparkattendant wrote:Walking will also keep them fit I can't remember the last time I saw a healthy cop especially the women.
Citygirl83 wrote: @ Have your say, you are playing a bit of a dangerous game there aren't you?Please explain
Mainly the last part. I am just merely pointing out that singling out women will win them no favours amongst the female poulation. Personally I think making police walk the beat as they use to is a good idea, would make me feel more inclined to go out without my car more often knowing there are police walking around. But I have seen just as many lardy male officers as well as females..
Citygirl83
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1:05pm Wed 5 Sep 12
Have your say
says...
4:04pm Wed 5 Sep 12
Citygirl83 wrote:My comment is directed at the Bromley based Women Police Officers as I work in Bromley and have never seen one under a Size 14(safe to say without body armour and kit), it is not directed at women as I have seen many in Bromley under a size 12/14.
Carparkattendant wrote:Walking will also keep them fit I can't remember the last time I saw a healthy cop especially the women.
Citygirl83 wrote: @ Have your say, you are playing a bit of a dangerous game there aren't you?Please explain
Mainly the last part. I am just merely pointing out that singling out women will win them no favours amongst the female poulation. Personally I think making police walk the beat as they use to is a good idea, would make me feel more inclined to go out without my car more often knowing there are police walking around. But I have seen just as many lardy male officers as well as females..
Guess who ;) AGAIN !
says...
5:27pm Wed 5 Sep 12
Perhaps not a Hattie Jacques, but maybe just heavy boned lass.
Have your say
says...
8:46pm Wed 5 Sep 12
Citygirl83
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8:25am Thu 6 Sep 12
TheEverardedbutt
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10:08am Thu 6 Sep 12
toomush2drink
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11:10pm Thu 6 Sep 12
Either they have had no maintenance ,just been abused or its all a load of old tosh.
Basic maintenance shows up any problems and would mean repairs as and when needed.
ksc
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9:02am Fri 7 Sep 12
So if an officer is not able to decide on his own, whether his bike is safe to use, how can he then decide whether my bike is safe or not.
Also, if the Police don't have the £18,000 to service the bikes (£18,000, I'd do the lot for a ton) then where do they take their police cars, because they must get a blinding deal, wherever they go.
Bob Downondiss
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11:20am Fri 7 Sep 12
When I was in me yoof we used to shout out to girls on bikes as ya do, " lucky old saddle "
Talis2
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12:46pm Fri 7 Sep 12
I am a regular cyclist, and I do my own bike maintenance - its not that difficult. When I've had a major problem, a local bike shop has sorted it out for £50 so the amount quoted sounds very high to me. If Bromley were to use a bit of imagination, they could probably emply someone on a part-time salary who would do a good job looking after the bikes. Alternatively I'm sure a local shop would be delighted to be offered a contract to maintain them. It all seems a bit like taking the easy option and taking your car to a main dealer, rather than shopping around and finding a more competitive price. Not a good use of our Council Tax
Have your say
says...
6:07pm Fri 7 Sep 12
Citygirl83 wrote:Ahhh but are you a WPC? I think not.
Well Have your say I am a larger lady, I don't wear a size 14 but I am not classed as unfit in the slightest, I run 10ks and 5ks, I attend the gym regularly. As I said I see many a lardy male officer but I don't asssume they can't do their job, they do have to go through regular re-training as I understand it.
reasonable75
says...
10:17am Sat 8 Sep 12
Citygirl83 wrote:I seem to remember seeing soething about when police officers join they have fitness tests, but they are never retested.
Well Have your say I am a larger lady, I don't wear a size 14 but I am not classed as unfit in the slightest, I run 10ks and 5ks, I attend the gym regularly. As I said I see many a lardy male officer but I don't asssume they can't do their job, they do have to go through regular re-training as I understand it.
Perhaps one of the contributors who is in the police could enlighten us
Carparkattendant says...
9:03am Wed 5 Sep 12