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North Wales Police to use racing bikes in operations
May 27 2008 by Kelly Fenna, Daily Post
Honda Fireblade
NORTH Wales Police will this week take delivery of four super-powered racing bikes for use in covert operations, the Daily Post can reveal.
At that means police officers on unmarked high performance motorbikes will start patrolling North Wales on the look out for speeding and illegal bikers.
Officers say the two Honda Fireblades and two Honda VFRs are the latest weapons in a bid to cut down the soaring death toll on the region?s roads ? but bikers say it will ?alienate? some riders.
The Honda Fireblade has been dubbed a ?muscular predator? with ?aggressive performance.? The 180bhp bike can reach speeds of up to 179mph and costs around ?9,300.
The bikes will be unmarked and powerful enough to outpace most conventional motorbikes, meaning speeders will find they can no longer escape pursuing officers.
The force is leasing the bikes, which would together cost more than ?35,000, for nine months before deciding whether to add them permanently to the fleet.
But last night, former police advanced motorcycle instructor Bob McMillan claimed the move would ?do nothing to reduce fatalities?.
Mr McMillan, 60, is an ex-general manager of Honda UK Motorcycles. He blasted police tactics as ?narrow-minded? and ?negative.? He said officers on bikes would be better utilised stopping, talking to, advising and riding with motorcyclists.
?A new approach such as this would have two positives,? he said.
?One, it would be an excellent demonstration of police riding skills and two it would help to humanise the police, which in turn would bring them respect ? something that is sadly lacking with the current divisive methods used for speed enforcement.?
North Wales Police last night defended the decision to hire the bikes. A spokesman said: ?We are very serious about tackling the causes of road casualties around the roads of North Wales.
?We have carried out consultations with responsible motorcyclists who come into the area.
?They are overwhelmingly of the opinion that covert speed enforcement works and is an important deterrent. Part of our serious approach is that we need the right enforcement tools to do the job.?
And safety campaigners said the new police motorbikes could help to combat road deaths.
A spokeswoman from road safety charity Brake said: ?Road deaths are a huge problem and it is good that North Wales Police are trying to stamp out one of the biggest causes of death and injury on our roads.
?It is equally important however, that police don?t risk causing an emergency to get to an emergency ? as with any force it is important to stick to guidelines and always put safety first, especially when making a decision whether or not to carry out high speed chases.?
Last year, 13 motorcyclists were killed in North Wales and many more were involved in accidents.
May 27 2008 by Kelly Fenna, Daily Post
Honda Fireblade
NORTH Wales Police will this week take delivery of four super-powered racing bikes for use in covert operations, the Daily Post can reveal.
At that means police officers on unmarked high performance motorbikes will start patrolling North Wales on the look out for speeding and illegal bikers.
Officers say the two Honda Fireblades and two Honda VFRs are the latest weapons in a bid to cut down the soaring death toll on the region?s roads ? but bikers say it will ?alienate? some riders.
The Honda Fireblade has been dubbed a ?muscular predator? with ?aggressive performance.? The 180bhp bike can reach speeds of up to 179mph and costs around ?9,300.
The bikes will be unmarked and powerful enough to outpace most conventional motorbikes, meaning speeders will find they can no longer escape pursuing officers.
The force is leasing the bikes, which would together cost more than ?35,000, for nine months before deciding whether to add them permanently to the fleet.
But last night, former police advanced motorcycle instructor Bob McMillan claimed the move would ?do nothing to reduce fatalities?.
Mr McMillan, 60, is an ex-general manager of Honda UK Motorcycles. He blasted police tactics as ?narrow-minded? and ?negative.? He said officers on bikes would be better utilised stopping, talking to, advising and riding with motorcyclists.
?A new approach such as this would have two positives,? he said.
?One, it would be an excellent demonstration of police riding skills and two it would help to humanise the police, which in turn would bring them respect ? something that is sadly lacking with the current divisive methods used for speed enforcement.?
North Wales Police last night defended the decision to hire the bikes. A spokesman said: ?We are very serious about tackling the causes of road casualties around the roads of North Wales.
?We have carried out consultations with responsible motorcyclists who come into the area.
?They are overwhelmingly of the opinion that covert speed enforcement works and is an important deterrent. Part of our serious approach is that we need the right enforcement tools to do the job.?
And safety campaigners said the new police motorbikes could help to combat road deaths.
A spokeswoman from road safety charity Brake said: ?Road deaths are a huge problem and it is good that North Wales Police are trying to stamp out one of the biggest causes of death and injury on our roads.
?It is equally important however, that police don?t risk causing an emergency to get to an emergency ? as with any force it is important to stick to guidelines and always put safety first, especially when making a decision whether or not to carry out high speed chases.?
Last year, 13 motorcyclists were killed in North Wales and many more were involved in accidents.
