PC Avey-Hedditch picks up the bike watched by, from left, Brian Frecknall, chairman of St Leonards and St Ives Homewatch, Mike Dyer, chairman of St Leonards and St Ives Parish Council, Sharon Worsfold from Pedals, Rodger Long, chairman of West Moors Homewatch and Pete Holden, chairman of West Moors Parish Council.
Accessing heathland and plantations can be pretty tough because of the rough terrain. But thanks to support from local communities, a new mountain bike will mean police can boldly go where normal patrol bikes would struggle to reach.
PC Dan Avey-Hebditch from the West Moors, St Leonards, and St Ives Safer Neighbourhood team picked up a Saracen TuffTrax Disc bike from Pedals Cycle Centre in Ferndown this week.
The bike has been funded by West Moors and St Leonards & St Ives Parish Councils and the Homewatch from the two communities, with an individual donation from County Councillor Peter Finney.
An bike upgrade and support from Pedals means police will be able to tackle all types of terrain.
It will also be available for use by Council or Homewatch members on joint patrol/partnership initiatives with the police.
It is more discreetly marked than the two patrol bikes already used which were funded by Synergy Housing.
PC Avey-Hebditch said: “We are delighted to have this bike which will help us access completely off road difficult terrain areas such as Avon Heath and within the plantations away from the tracks and bridleways, when looking for suspects or missing persons. It will also be invaluable when dealing with seasonal issues such as deliberately set plantation fires.”
