31 Dec 2013

The recently launched pilot project of the Botswana Police Service (BPS) bicycle patrol unit in Gaborone is said to be experiencing some teething problems despite its barrier-breaking tool in community policing.

The station commander of Gaborone West Police Station, which is one of the police stations where the first batch of trained police cyclists was being piloted, Superintendent Agreement Mapeu, said most of the residents of screened wall were reluctant to open the gates for the police officers. “Even if they ask for water, they are being denied access into the yard by the residents,” he explained.

Other challenges which had been addressed, he said, included bicycle breakdowns during patrols adding that the department had since identified a company that serviced bicycles on a monthly basis.

Superintendent Mapeu explained that cyclists were not only there to fight crime but were also engaged in public education on crime prevention, stop, question and search and assist people especially children, the elderly or disabled to cross the busy roads. 

In spite of all the challenges encountered, he explained that some of the advantages of using bicycle in police operations include affordability and easy maneuvering in passages and places that vehicle could not move with ease. “Bicycle patrols are more common in urban areas where limited coverage by cars were not available,” he added.

He said the use of bicycles instead of cars could make police officers more easily approachable, especially in high crime areas adding that bicycles could also enhance mobility and range of foot patrols. Superintendent Mapeu explained that bicycles were nearly silent in operation and many criminals would not realise that an approaching person on a bicycle was actually a police officer.

Therefore, he appealed to residents to work hand in hand with bicycle patrol officers in order to fight crime in their respective areas. Bicycle patrol officers could be identified by a police cycling uniform made up of dark blue trousers with reflectors, a lime shirt with reflectors and a blue/white helmet.

The uniform and the bicycles were branded with the police logo. Other piloted police stations were Borakanelo, Broadhurst and Central. ENDS