10 August 2010

Cycling on the pavement: a lesson

An email from the communitysafe people tells me that on Monday 9 August at about 11:30am a 16-year-old cyclist was stopped by PCSOs on the pavement South Lambeth Road and arrested on suspicion of going equipped to commit burglary.

Clue: bolt cutters in his bag.
Problem: no reasonable explanation. 
Also: suspicion bike was stolen.
Bike: property marked.
Outcome: bailed pending further enquiries.

Sergeant Sacre from the Oval SNT said: “This is a good example of local officers knowing local people, and the merits of property marking.  Hopefully we can now reunite the bike to its rightful owner.”
at 6:55 PM

2 comments:

  1. Without wishing to shoot the messenger, I find this report hard to believe, since I've never seen a PCSO doing anything except texting/ wandering/ milling, and doubt that they would have the charisma to apprehend and then search someone. Apart from which, who would actually stop if asked to do so by a PCSO? Probably not me, and certainly not a hardened criminal. When Sargeant Sacre says that its good that local officers know local people, is he suggesting that the police now routinely search anybody they don't recognise. Is that legal grounds for stopping someone?
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  2. Don't go much on the somewhat arrogant above comment. As one of two unrelated persons who had their bike locks cut away at Sainsbury's Nine Elms Bike racks about ten days ago and of course stollen I have a little more empathy with this report - that is in addition to not having any time for pavement cyclists. Oh and Sainsbury's "SECURITY" on the theft evening in question adamantly refused to call the police for either of us - err the reason given err... the thefts did not occur inside the shop. He had the CCTV footage and referred us to the Customer Services Desk and the woman assistant kinda bewildered gawped "why's he sent you to us?". Ah Sainsburys Nine Elms ... get an axe in your head just outside the entrance door and you gotta phone for the emergency services yourself! Customer Services indeed.
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