Guide tells police how to ride a bike

Friday, November 13, 2009

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has disowned a guide that gives police constables advice on riding a pushbike.

The Police Cycle Training Doctrine – which carries the ACPO crest on its cover – tells police officers how to balance, brake, turn corners and avoid such 'obstacles' as kerbs. The 93-page, two volume guide also tells them to wear padded shorts "for in-saddle comfort" and to make sure that they eat and drink properly.

Officers are also advised not to tackle suspects while they are still "engaged with the cycle". And the guide tells undercover officers who may ride their bikes without a helmet: "This lack of protection must be noted and a full risk assessment of the required role undertaken." As such, the document has been branded as a waste of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money.

ACPO insists that the guide was produced independently by a group of safety conscious officers.

An ACPO spokesman said: "This work was neither requested nor drawn up by ACPO and we do not endorse it. It was put forward by a group of well-meaning police officers with an interest in this area. ACPO will not be taking it forward."

However, London Mayor Boris Johnson has been quoted as saying of the guide "I am sure it is of great value" and he was sure it was "very, very sound advice" that officers should dismount before tackling suspected criminals.

Jo Stagg of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents told the BBC: "It is really important that adult cyclists are trained and if you have to go out on the road as part of your job your employer has a duty of care. One of the ways that duty can be exercised is by offering training and guidance. We would expect police officers to be exemplary road users. The language in this booklet might be a bit technical and inappropriate for ordinary cyclists but we need to remember that officers need advice when they are carrying out operational duties on their bikes."