Bobbies-on-W heels

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31088, 17 June 1966, Page 12

Bobbies-on-W heels

gOBBIES on the beat in Lancashire, England, are going by car nowadays—and police say the idea has cut the crime rate dramatically. Fifty-eight Ford Anglias have recently gone into service at Kirkby and in the Bury and Widnes police divisions. Colonel T. E. S. Johnston, C.8.E., Lancashire’s Chief Constable, reports that since the “bobbies-on-wheels” were introduced in Kirkby nine months ago, reported crime has fallen by 31 per cent and cases of damage have dropped by 53 per cent Each Anglia is manned by one policeman with a personal pocket radio so that he can remain in contact fS.

with his police station when he leaves the car to check shops and other premises on his beat. The cars are painted lagoon blue with white doors. They have a distinctive white stripe across the roof, illuminated police signs at the front and rear of the roof, and “Police” painted in fluorescent white on each door.

Lancashire police, encouraged by the dramatic drop in crime rates, hope to extend the scheme throughout the county with more cars.

The cars are also helping to make the roads safer. Accidents have been reduced by 16 per cent since they were introduced.