NORTH Swindon bike cops have been given a boost.

British Land, which owns the Orbital Shopping park, has donated two new bicycles to PCSOs in the North Swindon community policing team.

PCSO Kate Jackson-Collier said: “In North Swindon there are so many cycle paths and on these bikes we can get to incidents quicker than the response cars quite often. If we come across a job, we’re there. Last night we stumbled across a domestic incident.

“On the bikes, we see a lot more. In the cars, we don’t always get to see and hear what’s happening.”

PCSO Lee Hare, an officer with 12 years’ experience under his belt, said the bikes also proved useful for chasing criminals down North Swindon’s warren of paths: “There was one time we were called to criminal damage. There were lads running off and we were able to cycle after them. Gradually, they ran out of breath.

“We were right behind one lad. I said, ‘I can cycle all night’.”

The two officers regularly ask residents through the North Swindon Police Facebook page where they would like them to patrol.

It’s not easy. One night, the officers pedalled 34 miles in one night: from the Orbital to Gablecross for a briefing, then into the town centre.

PCSOs Hare and Jackson-Collier thanked Mitchells Cycles, which provided the £1,500 bikes at a discount and British Land for buying the bikes.

If you want the bike-riding PCSOs to patrol in your street, contact them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pg/Swindon-North-Police-383754508345709.