West Yorkshire police started using mountain bikes in Leeds at the end of 2004. Here is an example of their chosen equipment. It is a white S&W mountain bike and has blue lights and a siren on the handlebar, and a liveried rack-top bag. The West York. riders are in the background.
This is an example of a North Wales police mountain bike. It is liveried in reflective battenburg markings, just as you would find on police motor vehicles. Notice the cycle-specific uniform of the officer.
This is Nottingham Police’s Meadows bike patrol team. These photos were taken when the unit was first set up in April 1999. The bikes are fitted with two large white lights to the front. Also notice the uniforms are a mix of cycle-specific and standard clothing: the helmets have miniature boom microphones fitted, but the footwear remains standard leather shoes.
Another of Nottingham’s cycle units, heading out on patrol.
In this recreation of a scene from the 1960s, a police officer poses with his cycle. In the background are police cars 17 BPU and 111 HAJ (a Ford Zepher 6).
A pair of Met Police mountain bikes.
Here are a group of emergency service cyclists outside one of the most famous addresses in the country; 10 Downing Street.
A St. John Ambulance and a police officer make their way onto Parliament Square, towards Big Ben.
Police cyclists in London outside another one of the most famous addresses in the country; Buckingham Palace.
A line up of three Met police officers. Their bikes have white frames with the Met logo printed on each side, and are each fitted with triangular blue flashing light.
This black-framed bike is a Kraken Kit/Halfords police cycle.
A Smith & Wesson police cycle posing at Beaulieu.
A Thames Valley police cycle patrol officer.
Here is an Essex police cycle patrol officer on his Smith and Wesson bike.
A Smith and Wesson cycle that is designed specifically for police use off the shelf.
A closer look at the front of Essex bike. The bikes do not have any blue lights as the bikes will also be used by PCSOs. The bags on the back of the bike fold out to become panniers to fit an A4 folder in. The uniform worn in the photo includes police cycle helmet, protective glasses with 3 lenses (dark, orange, clear), hi-vis jacket, gloves and black Regatta trousers.
This is one of the mountain bikes used by South Wales Police. The bag is mounted on a post that is fixed to the seat post.
DS03 EOU This Mitsubishi L200 is used by Cardiff’s police to carry bikes as shown above. It is operated in conjunction with Cardiff City Park Rangers. Notice the arrangement of the roof lights and the dual crests on the side.
The rear view of the same Mitsubishi. The vehicle is a with extras such as a winch on the front, rear bike carrier which is used for transporting the team bikes and seizure of motorbikes being used antisocially.
This is one of Hampstead Heath Constabulary’s Smith & Wesson cycles. It is used by the small force for patrolling the Heath along with their two motor vehicles. It is fitted with white / blue lights and a siren.
Here is another of the constabulary’s cycles. It is fitted here with a trial pannier bag, which is the same as ambulance cycles use. It has been used to carry police documents and limited medical equipment. However, the weight on the rear of the bike was too much to cope with on hilly and off-road terrain.
Two Dorset PCs here with their black and grey Specialized bikes.
Here are a group of three Sussex police cadets with their Smith & Wesson police mountain bikes.
Here is a photo of two Avon & Somerset cycle officers on the Bristol Downs. Their bikes are Marin Nail Trails and each officer is allocated there own bike which is set up to suit them. Notice how the officers’ collar numbers have been moved to the right breast and ‘Redland Police’ is written on the cross bar, showing which station they are based at.
This photograph shows two Dorset PCSOs with their Giant mountain bikes. Notice how they are in a reflective blue and yellow colour scheme. They have ‘police’ wording on the frames as well as the force’s website address.
A red police cycle this time, ridden by PCSO Steve Richards from Dorset’s Sherbourne police station.
SF07 CKV This Iveco Eurocargo in used to transport police horses in the Strathclyde area. Because the horses are deployed in advance of trouble and cannot be transported at speed, the vehicle is only fitted with minimal blue flashing lights (in the front grille).
BX56 WMC is a Metropolitan Police (London) Iveco horse box. This large truck is fitted with rear-wheel steering to help it get around the congested roads of the capital. Notice that it doesn’t have any blue flashing lights as the vehicle is used pro-actively and needs to drive steadily with horses aboard.
LY05 KNE This large Saab truck has been converted into a horse transporter and mobile police office. It is used by the City of London Police. The rear drops down to provide a ramp for horses’ access and the front portion is an area for the riders.
N46 KWR This is a West Yorkshire Police 9-ton Iveco Truck, used by the Mounted Section.
YJ05 AHA This is another West Yorkshire Police truck used by the Mounted Section. It is a much newer Mercedes in the same livery as previous mounted police vehicles, with blue bodywork around the roof and side skirts. This 11-tonne truck also has the corporate West Yorks. yellow stripe.
The rear view. The rear half of this vehicle houses the horses, whereas the front is an office area for officers to be briefed, get changed and take breaks. Notice the lack of blue lights on this police vehicle.
The nearside view, giving an indication of the length of this truck.