Police force launches e-bike project

A total of 89 officers and community support officers have been trained so far

An electric bike project has been launched across Devon and Cornwall Police.

The force said its pilot in Cornwall had been successful for keeping officers engaged with communities and allowing them to be present in places that do not always have a police presence.

It said it had 39 e-bikes operating across Camborne, Plymouth, Penzance, Exeter, Bodmin, Cullompton, Falmouth, Truro Launceston, Hayle and Helston.

Supt Ian Thompson said officers found the bikes benefitted them on the job and helped keep them active physically and mentally.

'Taking pressure off'

"The electric bikes initiative is boosting the ability of our neighbourhood teams to engage with and be visible in their communities, whilst allowing them to be in places that do not always have a police presence," he said.

"In turn, this is taking the pressure off our vehicle fleet and allowing us to be less reliant on cars and reduce our carbon footprint."

Mr Thompson said 89 officers and community support officers had been trained and hoped to provide access to the neighbourhood teams across the counties.

He added the bikes took the pressure off its vehicle fleet and one officer had covered 71km (44 miles) in one day.