Davey Backs Berrylands' "Bobbies on Bikes"

12.59.59pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 17th Nov 2006

Specially equipped bicycles are now being used by the Berrylands Safer Neighbourhood team to help them patrol and combat anti-social behaviour. Three PCSOs, as part of the Berrylands Safer Neighbourhood team - Berrylands' "Bobbies on Bikes" met this week with local MP Edward Davey to explain how the bicycles will help them combat anti-social behaviour, get around their beat quicker and still remain visible and approachable.

Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, gave the initiative his strong backing and congratulated the police for what they are doing to reduce crime and the fear of crime.

One of the PCSOs for Berrylands, Dominic Elsbury, said: "They are ideal for local policing, especially in tackling problems like anti-social behaviour. In an area with open spaces, such as Berrylands, we can get across the ward in less time than it would take a police vehicle. They have already proved very useful in some incidents".

Edward Davey MP said,

"I have campaigned for many years for more Bobbies on the Beat here in Kingston - not just in numbers - but police hours' that are actually spent pounding the beat.

"Having, "Bobbies on Bikes" is another common sense approach to community policing in suburban areas. The Berrylands Safer Neighbourhood team like others in the Borough has been instrumental in reducing crime levels, so much so that Berrylands is now one of the safest wards in the whole of London and crime continues to go down each year. Since we can't afford to be complacent new, practical ideas like this one should help continue these improvements."