Added: 05/03/2008

Category: Safer Neighbourhood Team

Safer Neighbourhood Team Police Officers, Special Constables and Community Support Officers from across West Suffolk are going back to the classroom and onto the roads tomorrow, Thursday 6th March, to get cycle savvy so they can pass their knowledge on to local youngsters.

A group of around 20 officers are being trained to teach cycle safety at the Moreton Hall Community Centre in Bury St Edmunds – the officers will gain both written and practical experience from Suffolk County Council’s Senior Road Safety Officer Iain Watson, as part of Suffolk Roadsafe.

Safer Cycling courses have already been piloted in the Mid Suffolk and Babergh areas by Police Education Partnership officers PC Ruth Bamford and PC Di Porter – they have proved to be so popular and in such great demand that PCs, Specials and PCSOs across Suffolk are to receive training to be able to hold courses countywide. The Moreton Hall course is the first of five to be held.

Once the officers have completed the training, they will be able to run courses in their local areas or villages. The courses are aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 13, to enable them to cycle more safely in future, and are usually held over the school holidays. The courses also give Safer Neighbourhood Team members the opportunity to meet and get to know the younger members of the communities they serve.