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Police ridiculed over 'how to ride a bike' manual
12 Nov 2009Police officers were ridiculed today after drawing up a step-by-step guide to riding a bicycle.
The 93-page full-colour guide, which comes in two volumes, gives advice on how to balance so officers do not fall off.
The book, titled the Police Cycle Training Doctrine, also covers key skills such as how to brake, turn and avoid the kerb.
Officers were told to eat and drink because they will get hungry and to wear padded shorts to protect their bottoms.
It also warned officers not to arrest suspects while in the saddle, or, in their words, "engaged with the cycle".
Undercover officers were told they may have to go without a helmet to avoid arousing suspicion, but they should make a "risk assessment".
The guidance was drawn up by a group of cycling enthusiasts working for police forces around England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
They submitted it to the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), which co-ordinates police strategy.
London Mayor Boris Johnson, a keen cyclist, suggested too much public money had been spent on the guide.
He said: "I am sure it is of great value, I haven't seen it, but I think you can do this kind of thing much, much more cheaply."
The Tory politician added he is sure it is "very, very sound advice" that officers should dismount before tackling suspects.
Mark Wallace, campaign director at the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "This guide is an absurd waste of police time and taxpayers' money.
"Police officers are perfectly capable of riding a bike and already get health and safety training, and don't need a lecture in common sense from a trade lobby of senior police officers.
"It's no wonder we haven't got enough bobbies on the beat if our officers are having to spend time and energy wading through this sort of nonsense."
An Acpo spokeswoman declined to provide a copy of the guide and said she was not aware who wrote it.
She 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."
Sergeant Rob Thorpe, of North Yorkshire Police, is a member of the police national working group for cycling training and contributed to the book.
The officer, who has provided specialist training to help police on mountain bikes navigate the countryside, declined to comment.
Greg Woodford, a cycle trainer at CTC, the UK's national cyclists' organisation, said adequate cycle training already exists.
He said: "Although I've not seen the full 93-page report, I would say that cycle training is very important for all cyclists, whether they are police officers or members of the public.
"I would like to remind Acpo that the national standard for cycle training covers all the basics of cycling skills and road sense.
"I'd recommend all police cyclists pass their level three and encourage Acpo to work alongside what has already been developed.
"After that police cyclists can then be equipped with the specialist training they need to do their job in today's traffic conditions."
Reader views (11)
Did they get the 50 page manual on how put on cycle clips without doing their back in........Who are the Morons that write these things...and the morons in the Police who agree to pay for these stupid items......The Chief constables who agree these things should be relieved of their jobs......because of stupidity.....
- Themanoftruth, United Kingdom, 12/11/2009 21:10
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"Officers were told to eat and drink because they will get hungry".Ah, but were they told HOW to eat and drink?
You couldn't make it up!
- Meldroo, Oldham, England, 12/11/2009 15:49
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this of course will be accompanied by the 57 page book on how to walk safely and the 33 page book on eating doughnuts in the canteen.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 12/11/2009 15:38
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The production of this guide has been nothing more than an employment retention exercise for those involved, who otherwise would be chewing the ends of their pencils, bored to death.
It is such a shame that so much emphasis was not given to educate the police that tourists and photographers generally have a right to take pictures without being hassled by section 44 searches.
- Tom Watson, SE1, 12/11/2009 15:13
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why are we employing coppers who can't ride bikes ? riding a bike,driving a car, speaking English and being physically fit enough to handle oneself in a physical confrontation is the very least we should expect before employing them.
- Squiz, Islington, 12/11/2009 14:27
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More ultra left madness, what's next, the manual on how to think?
- Porky Pies, Land of Make Believe, London, 12/11/2009 13:58
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On a related note, perhaps a copy could be distributed to every one of the cyclists in London who use pavements, ride the wrong way down 1-way streets, jump red lights and generally flout every traffic law in existence?
(Lights blue touchpaper and retreats)
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 12/11/2009 13:15
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"I hope there was a health and safety assessment made on whether this guide should be produced. The problems of repetitive strain injury when typing can be disastrous."
-Frank, Home Counties,England
Haha well said Frank - and whilst you may want to laugh at your comment, the sad fact is that I wouldn't bet that they haven't done a whole other risk assessment report on the dangers of typing up this report.
The Police have been suffocated with layers and layers of pointless bureacracy and over the top elf 'n' safety laws - this cycle guide is a classic example.
Soon ACPO will be introducing "Police Walking Guidelines for Foot Patrol Officers".
What has this country come to?!
- Anon Pc, London, UK, 12/11/2009 11:53
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And the person who wrote it will get a pension based on final-year salary: will you?
- Roz, France, 12/11/2009 10:01
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Jesus, what a joke our society has become.
I hope there was a health and safety assessment made on whether this guide should be produced. The problems of repetitive strain injury when typing can be disastrous.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 12/11/2009 09:41
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What a pity ACPO have nothing better to do with their time - and their expenses.
- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 12/11/2009 07:59
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