Force’s new three-wheeled motorbikes prove their worth in helping officers to reach communities across Northamptonshire

Local policing teams in Northamptonshire are making good use of the Neighbourhood Beat Buses and new hybrid three-wheel motorbikes, to increase accessibility and visibility and tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in communities across the county.

The two Neighbourhood Beat Buses have been in use for over a year and provide a mobile meeting place where officers can speak with members of the public, reaching more rural locations across the county.

The innovative hybrid motorcycles, which were developed by Northamptonshire -based White Motorcycle Concepts (WMC), were introduced last October, when the Force took delivery of eight bikes for use by the neighbourhood policing teams.

The WMC300FR bikes have unique and distinctive three-wheel design. The detachable battery can be charged using a standard three-pin plug while the innovative tunnel through the middle improves efficiency, making the bikes a versatile and cost-efficient transport solution.

This week (January 23-29) is national #NeighbourhoodPolicingWeek and Sergeant Greg Taylor from the South Northants Neighbourhood Policing team is keen to highlight how his team, and officers across the county, are making use of both the beat buses and the bikes to patrol their area and increase engagement with local people.

He said: “The beat bus is ideal for getting out to our more rural locations. We can set up a surgery for a couple of hours and people can come and speak to their local officers about any issues.

“We advertise the dates on the Force’s website and our social media accounts, and we’d really encourage people to come along and talk to us. It’s a great opportunity for people to speak to officers privately about any concerns they may have about crime or anti-social behaviour in their local area.

“The new hybrid bikes are also proving very useful, providing an alternative way of getting out and about in our communities. The three-wheel design means they can be driven on a standard car licence, so we can get even more officers out and about on them following just basic training.

“Their distinctive appearance is also an advantage – it certainly makes them noticeable, and this gives us a great opportunity to engage with the public and start a conversation.”

Neighbourhood policing teams play a pivotal role in keeping communities safe. Being visible and accessible to local people and tackling the issues that matter to them in their community is the cornerstone of neighbourhood policing, and these vehicles have become essential tools to help the Force establish a strong and useful dialogue between the police and the public.

Sergeant Taylor added: “Getting out into the community in this way means we are better connected with local people. The public are our eyes and ears in the fight against crime - you know what's going on in your neighbourhood and the information you give us about what the issues are, and who might be involved, is invaluable.

“The more we know the better able we are to work together to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour at the earliest opportunity, providing robust and long-term solutions to the issues that matter most to our communities.”

About the three-wheel hybrid bikes

• The innovative WMC300FR motorcycle has been developed by Northamptonshire based White Motorcycle Concepts (WMC) in collaboration with Northamptonshire Police and a number of British engineering innovation companies.
• The technology behind the design of the WMC300FR reduces emissions by up to 50 per cent compared with a comparable non-hybrid model.
• The ‘venturi’ – the tunnel through the middle which allows air to pass through the machine and not around it – makes the bike very efficient due to superior aerodynamics.
• The batteries are compact and easily removed, and spares can be carried on the bike or conveniently stored back at the station – meaning the bikes do not need downtime for charging and can continue to be used for patrol.
• The design also provides a three-pin plug and USB ports, creating a mobile workstation and allowing officers to spend even more time on their beat.