Accident took police bikes off the streets
By David Leask, Chief Reporter, The Herald Scotland, Saturday 25 October 2014
POLICE bicycles were pulled off the streets during this summer's Commonwealth Games after a freak accident.
An officer on patrol during the July event was hurt when his front axle snapped, throwing him to the ground. He suffered a head knock and sprained his shoulder and wrist in the incident.
The force immediately withdrew the bikes concerned.
Police bikes are an increasingly common site as officers patrol on two wheels rather than on foot.
Police yesterday said the cycles had been approved for use again after the accident, which took place somewhere in either Inverclyde or Renfrewshire, Police Scotland's K division.
A spokeswoman said: "All bikes used by Police Scotland officers are serviced regularly. This particular incident occurred while the officer was on Commonwealth Games deployment and the bike he was using had recently been serviced. "
The cycling officer was one of six police injured so seriously during the Games in July that their cases had to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
Overall, 24 officers were hurt during in accidents on Games duty. However, this period included most of the biggest force mobilisation in Scottish policing history with more than 109,000 Games deployments. Any incidents in the last three days of the event, which ran in to August, would not be included in such numbers.
Other injuries reported to the HSE in July included an officer who broke her ankle stepping in a pothole.
Most police injuries are sustained during arrests.