Quote:
Originally Posted by Incognitas
What's wrong with them using bicycles?They are faster than on foot, less likely to cause any real damage in an accident and more accessible if they patrol the same area plus they can do a larger beat than a foot patrol.  |
Nothing if you work in a small area, aside from having to worry about some enterprising young scallywag nicking them if they aren't chained up.
If you cover a large rural area then a car is the only option.
With the current level of front line officers taking any away from cars to walk a beat would be dangerous, almost all the Police blogs have stories on them where shifts covering large areas have a handful of cops on at any one time. *IF* the number of office dwellers is reduced and more front line cops appear then yes having them out on foot or on bikes is a good idea.
Plus if any of the ones on foot get involved in a chase they first thing they do is call for assistance from anyone nearby with a car. If you've ever tried running in a stab vest and utility belt it's not easy. Especially if the person you are chasing is wearing a freshly shoplifted tracksuit.
---------- Post added at 10:50 ---------- Previous post was at 10:48 ----------
Besides having cops on foot isn't a bar to the force being sued and having to pay out.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by BBC
A woman has won £8,000 damages from Strathclyde police force after one of its officers knocked her to the ground while running after a suspect.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/6401371.stm