Public Safety Cycling Debuts in
the UK
by Sgt. Nigel Tottie
North Yorkshire Police, England
In a manner remarkably similar to the
way in which IPMBA was born, the weekend of the 21st and 22nd June 2003 saw
North Yorkshire Police play host to the first 'Emergency Services Cycling
Seminar' at York Racecourse in the North of England. Held in conjunction
with the annual York Cycle Show and Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC) Rally (the
CTC is, apparently, the UK equivalent of the League of American Bicyclists),
the seminar was the first of what is hoped to be an annual event in which
Police Forces, Ambulance Services and other Public Services which use cycles
are able to come together to share ideas, discuss best practices, and compare
equipment and patrolling techniques.
Police cycle patrols and EMS cyclists in the UK have really taken off over
the last year, and the timing for the seminar seemed perfect to try and bring
people together for the first time on a national scale. The seminar was attended
by eleven police forces from around England and Wales (there are forty-three
in total), as well as representatives from Belfast in Northern Ireland. Three
Ambulance Services attended, as did HM Coastguard, who now use cycles to
patrol coastal paths in Wales. The highlight of the seminar, and a real coup
for the UK officers who arranged it, was the visit by Maureen Becker and
T.J. Richardson, IPMBA's Executive Director and President, respectively.
Maureen and T.J. came over specifically for the event to represent IPMBA
at this inaugural event.
The seminar was opened in front of around 50 delegates by the Chief Constable
of North Yorkshire, Della Cannings, who welcomed everyone before speaking
about the role which cycle patrols can play in providing a high profile policing
presence which is accessible and can provide the reassurance which is vital
in the fight against the fear of crime.
The opening was followed by presentations by Sgt. Nigel Tottie, a co-organiser
of the event, on the role of the York Community Cycle Unit, a cycle patrol
team which has been running in York for the last year, with great success,
and is now seen as one of the three leading cycle patrol units in the UK.
This was followed by presentations from York-based paramedic Mark Inman on
the health benefits of cycling, and a presentation by IPMBA instructor PC
Mark Cockram of the City of London Police on the need to clothe and equip
officers properly for cycle patrol work.
After lunch, which was provided by KIT, a UK manufacturer of cycle-specific
uniform and equipment, T.J. Richardson talked to the delegates about the
role of IPMBA and issues surrounding liability and training. Sgt. Peter Newman
then spoke about the Selly Oak cycle team in the West Midlands area, a
crime-fighting team who have had a great deal of success in reducing house
burglaries in their area. The seminar was concluded by paramedic Tom Lynch
who spoke about the work of the London Ambulance Service Cycle Response Unit,
who work in the busy West End of London.
The day ended with delegates visiting various pubs in the City of York (which,
at last count, had 365 within the city limits!) sampling locally brewed beers
such as 'Sizzler', 'York Bitter' and the strangely-named 'Wonky Donkey'.
Sunday saw several sore-headed delegates arrive bright and early in a massive
electrical storm at York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in
Europe, and some 1400 years old! Maureen and T.J. were treated as guests
of honour by the CTC at the Minster, where a dedication ceremony for cyclists
was held, led by CTC President Phil Liggett, a famous TV cycling presenter
who shortly after the ceremony was jetting over to France for the start of
the Centenary edition of the Tour de France cycle race, on which he was
commentating.
After the ceremony the annual parade of 2000+ cyclists made their way from
the Minster back to the Racecourse through the city, this year escorted by
the many public safety cyclists who were present. After a relaxed lunchtime
which saw many delegates walking around the many events and trade stands
at the Racecourse, delegates competed IPMBA-style against the clock around
a course containing obstacles designed to test their ability to manoeuvre
at slow speeds and negotiate stairs and other urban features. The competition
was compered (commentated on) by T.J. Richardson and won by Paramedic Paul
Brown of the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service. Prizes for
the competition were provided by Niton, another UK provider of police and
ambulance-specific cycle equipment, and Cannondale Europe, a major international
cycle manufacturer.
In all the event was very successful. Co-organiser Nigel Tottie said "The
seminar was a first and was well attended by services from all over the UK.
Although this year's event was relatively small, the support which we have
received means we shall certainly be back next year, and are already looking
at ways to make the event bigger and better. Cycle patrols are certainly
taking off in the UK, a fact demonstrated by the interest in this seminar,
from emergency service personnel and members of the public alike. I would
particularly like to thank Maureen and T.J. for taking the time to visit
us in the UK and offer us their support, and our Chief Constable for coming
along and offering her support. The success of the seminar has meant that
our Chief Officer has already stated her intention to send my co-organiser
PC Steve Harvey and I to the IPMBA conference in San Antonio next May to
build on the good work started over this
weekend".
Anyone wishing to participate in
next year's conference or obtain information on cycle patrols in the UK can
contact the organisers by email at
nigel.tottie@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
or
steven.harvey@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.
© 2003 IPMBA. This article first
appeared in the Fall 2003 issue of IPMBA News. |
