Police constable refuses to mount a bike due to possible health and safety. And it gets funnier.

 

1. Is anyone actually surprised? 

   The officer said he feared he could get into trouble without first having a risk-assessment conducted.

   The community officer was following guidelines from his superiors at Lancashire Constabulary, which state that staff who have not taken the exam, a course taken by thousands of schoolchildren every year, are banned from using a bike.

   Inspector Nick Emmet, from Lancashire Constabulary, said Pc Cobban was right to be cautious.

   “Our officers are required to be appropriately trained and assessed prior to using bikes for patrolling in order to comply with insurance and for the safety of themselves and the public.

   Several forces have banned officers from riding bikes until they have passed a two-day proficiency test.

   The only thing more insane is criticizing the officer for following the specific directives he’d been given.

   But his actions have been ridiculed, even by the Lancashire Police Authority, the body responsible for the organisation of Lancashire Constabulary.

   “I think it’s one of these PC gone mad things over PCs on bikes – I think having coppers on bikes is great,” said Cllr David Whipp, a member of the authority.

   Apparently some folks have now questioned the rules under which the Constables operate.  Any chance for sanity to take hold?
   Posted by Dr. Jeff       05/07/2009  at  07:33 PM  



2. Does this Constable carry a gun and if so, I hope THE bullet he was issued is still in his pocket, much like........Barney Fife, lets say.

   Posted by xiphos       05/07/2009  at  08:46 PM  



3. A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said the cycling proficiency exam they use is a modified version of tests taken by children learning to ride bikes but is “police specific”, using in-house instructors issuing extra guidance such as how to use police radios while cycling.

   I want to see the course materials for training them to walk and chew gum at the same time.

   Posted by keszler       05/08/2009  at  05:52 AM  

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