MORE police officers across East Sussex will have pedal power after 17 electric bikes were purchased for use by neighbourhood policing teams.
The initial trial of the electric bikes in Wealden proved incredibly popular with officers and residents so it was decided to roll the initiative out across East Sussex, giving officers another way of accessing local communities.
PCSO Wendy Wyatt, one of the officers initially trialling the bikes, said, “The use of these bikes has enabled me to visit communities that I would not normally be able to.
“Local farms are an excellent example. With a rural area without safe footways it was sometimes impossible to visit sufficiently.
“However with the new bikes, I can make a number of visits in a relatively short space of time.”
Inspector Tony Wakefield said, “It has been well publicised that Sussex Police is having to making financial cuts but it is imperative that where cuts are made, we ensure our service to the public is either maintained or improved.
“The electric bikes were one area where we have definitely managed to improve our service to residents.
“We have made the neighbourhood policing teams more accessible to residents in Wealden and we are now able to offer this service to the rest of East Sussex.
“The bikes will enhance Sussex Police’s drive to reduce carbon emissions through the reduction in their fleet usage and by reducing fuel costs considerably the bikes offer excellent value for money.
“The electric bikes are fully marked in police livery and will ensure a high visible presence is maintained across East Sussex.
“If you see one of the new electric bikes in your town or village feel free to speak to the officer about it, after all, that’s why we are there.”
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