Feedback on e-bike patrols very positive

Today is the last day police officers will don helmets to patrol the streets, after four weeks of evaluating their potential.

Dunedin was one of four centres to take to the roads on e-bikes as part of a road safety trial, beginning on February 12.

Senior Constable Kerrin Williams took part in the trial, and said the experience and feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

"I think the main thing was the community engagement — the community really loved seeing us out and about."

Testing new e-bikes recently are (from left) Constable Kerrin Williams, Constable Stewart Thomas, and Senior Constable Ruth Parsons. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN

The patrols were focused mostly on the flat areas near town. However, the bikes had gone out to South Dunedin and even made it up Baldwin St.

Officers on e-bikes were involved in general patrolling, public relations jobs, traffic and infringement-related jobs.

Three officers had located a person who went missing from Dunedin Hospital while on the bikes.

"We found a missing person. Someone had absconded from the hospital with an IV and we were able to look around for him.

"There were three of us so we were able to split up and find him; it worked pretty well."

No arrests had been made on the bikes.

Snr Const Williams said he saw no downsides to the patrols.

"You get the occasional heckle but that’s expected.

He said he thought the bikes had future use in events such as concerts and missing people.

The next step in the trial included collating feedback on what worked, pros and cons and the costing how much implementing the e-bikes permanently would be, Snr Const Williams said.

"I think it’s a great tool to have — it’s got scope for a lot of things.