Police officers in Halewood are hitting the beat on new bicycles

Police Community Support and Traffic Officers (PCSTOs) in Halewood have swapped pounding the beat for cycling the streets after a £1,000 donation from Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) to purchase two mountain bikes.

The bikes mean officers can provide greater coverage in their patrols in the Leathers Lane area.

Neighbourhood inspector for Halewood Gary Wilde said: “A fully operative PCSTO is pivotal to the continued success of neighbourhood policing. They are our eyes and ears in the community.

“A PCSTO equipped with a mountain bike provides a greater coverage of their ward and can get to places that a police car cannot, like grassy areas or railway lines.

“They are also able to respond more quickly and effectively to incidents than on foot, particularly incidents of anti social behaviour.”

Steve Hughes, neighbourhood manager from KHT, added: “We are fully committed to working with police to crack down on anti social behaviour in our neighbourhoods.

“PCSTOs are vital in helping to ensure our communities are safe. We hope our contribution will mean greater coverage, and more residents having the reassuring sight of officers on their streets.”