e-Bike trial for New Zealand Police

New Zealand Police in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin will begin a four-week trial of patrolling the cities on electric bikes (e-Bike) from February 12.

Sergeant Hamish Knight told Stuff that officers would carry out city patrols on the e-bikes just as they would on foot or in a police vehicle.

Stuff reports that the New Zealand Transport Agency contributed $70,000 to the trial so that each police officer involved in the trail will receive an e-bike, sunglasses, gloves, shoes, cycle shorts, a fluoro vest and a helmet.

Acting national road policing manager Inspector Gini Welch told Stuff that having officers on e-bikes gives increased visibility of police in the community, as well as making them more accessible and contributing to the public feeling safe and being safe.

New Zealand Police will assess the potential benefits the e-bikes could bring to policing and public safety in central city locations, and evaluate the trial before a potential roll-out.