Police bike teams to help keep streets safe

Caitlin Tiller | March 28, 2016, 3:00 AM | GUARDIAN EXPRESS

Eleni Evangel joined Colin Barnett and Liza Harvey to announce the bike patrol group.

A DEDICATED police bike team will tackle city crime from April 27 as part of a move to reduce criminal activity in Perth’s centre.

Perth police station officer-in-charge Craig Davis said regional officers from as far as Kununurra, Denmark and Albany had expressed interest in 36 full-time roles.

Senior Sergeant Davis said four sergeants and 32 constables would form four teams to target the CBD and Northbridge for criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.

Premier Colin Barnett and Police Minister Liza Harvey announced the bike patrols last week.

“Not only are local police keen to conduct bike patrols, this has been something that has consistently been raised at our community forums and by local businesses as something they’d like to see,” Ms Harvey said.

“We won't ever stop trying to further reduce crime in the area; we built the $93 million Perth Police Centre in Northbridge and now these bike patrols will enhance police engagement with the community.”

Perth MLA Eleni Evangel said the pending reconnection of the CBD and Northbridge made the bike patrol group more important.

“This has been something that was consistently raised at my business and community forums in Northbridge,” Ms Evangel said.

“The local business community, in particular the Business Improvement Group of Northbridge, has played an imperative part in helping me achieve this great outcome for our entertainment precinct and the local community.”

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