Police bikes idea is a tour de force
POLICE and residents have clubbed together to buy bicycles for officers on the beat in Dagenham.
Alibon safer neighbourhood team wanted bikes so they could cover more ground while patrolling their patch - but although the Metropolitan Police provided two bikes, there was no spare cash in the budget to buy one for each officer.
Sgt Michelle Thomas, who heads the team, decided to raise the funds by hosting a quiz night in December.
She said:"We raised about £300 - enough to buy another bike. The the Tenants and Residents' Association very kindly donated money for another two bikes - which we'll share with Eastbrook safer neighbourhood team - and Cllr John Davis organised the money for another bike."
Sgt Thomas and her officers collected the four new bikes from Halfords in Merrielands Cresent on Thursday.
She said:"This is what community policing is all about. This will make a real differencve in the area - it'll be easier for us to get to places and we'll be much quicker if someone calls for help."
Barking and Dagenham Recorder - Thursday 26th April 2007