Delhi Police: Bike patrol for capital’s narrow lanes

Delhi Police (Representational image/Files)

The Delhi Police’s 1,000-strong PCR unit is the first responder to distress calls received on the 100 helpline. However, owing to traffic and narrow lanes, the vans often face trouble getting to the spot. To get around this difficulty, police have decided to introduce round-the-clock motorcycle patrols.

“These motorcycles will help us navigate narrow lanes and congested localities. They will also help improve the response time to a distress call,” a police officer said.

Sources told The Indian Express that police have planned to modify at least three types of motorcycles — Pulsar, Apache and Royal Enfield Bullet — from each of the 180 police stations across the 13 districts.

These will be linked to the Police Control Room (PCR) unit. The bikes will be fitted with GPS and high-tech gear such as body-worn cameras and MP5 guns. “Staff at the police station are better informed about the area. So, they can easily find the spot as compared to PCR vans,” a police officer said.

According to sources, personnel at each police station will undergo a few days of training before being assigned patrol duty. Once training is complete, the Station House Officer (SHO) will draw up a daily roster and assign duty hours for the three shifts.

     

Special Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak (Operations) said Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik has given his go-ahead for the proposal. Pathak added that the bike patrolling unit will be formally launched soon.

Each bike will be manned by two police personnel — from constables to ASI-rank officers. They will also have a specially designed uniform. The pillion rider will be equipped with either an AK-47 or an MPF gun and the driver will carry a pistol.

Apart from hi-tech weapons, the personnel will have a loudhailer fixed to their helmets and special folding batons. Flasher lights will also be fixed to the front and back of the vehicle.

A few months ago, police had introduced bicycle patrolling in the capital and purchased 70 Firefox bicycles for its beat constables.

The idea to give the bicycles to beat constables — who operate in close proximity with residents — came from the police chief, sources had said. The bicycles would be used to patrol entire localities, conduct door-to-door checks, and check petty thefts and crime, an officer had said.