Greater Manchester Police in Rochdale have added seven new electric bikes to their fleet, giving officers a faster and more agile way to pursue criminals and provide a visible presence in neighbourhoods across the borough.
The new e-bikes will allow officers to navigate tight alleyways, footpaths and other hard-to-reach areas where traditional police vehicles can struggle to operate effectively.
The bikes have been funded locally, with support from RBH, a local windfarm and Rochdale Borough Council, demonstrating strong partnership working to back frontline policing in Rochdale.
The introduction of e-bikes follows similar deployments in other parts of the country, where forces have used electric bikes to counter criminals who exploit narrow streets and off-road routes to evade capture.
Paul Waugh MP joined Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis and his team to see the new bikes in action.
Paul Waugh MP said:
“I was pleased to join Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis and his team of Rochdale officers as they unveiled their new e-bikes, which are designed to help catch muggers and other criminals more quickly in narrow streets and alleyways.
When deployed in other parts of the country, police bikes have proved effective as an important and visible deterrent. I hope they will have a similar crime-cutting effect here in our borough.”
In London, officers have reported that electric bikes have helped them keep up with suspects using similar vehicles to carry out phone thefts. Police there say the bikes have not only improved response times but also acted as a deterrent, with criminals less likely to operate in areas where they see officers on agile patrol units.
Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis said the bikes would enhance neighbourhood policing by allowing officers to patrol parks, estates and busy town centres more effectively, while maintaining a highly visible presence in communities.
The seven bikes will be deployed across Rochdale borough, including in Heywood and Middleton, supporting targeted operations and day-to-day patrol work. They will also be used around key events and high-footfall areas, helping officers respond quickly while reducing reliance on traditional vehicles for short-distance patrols.
The move forms part of wider efforts by GMP in Rochdale to use new tactics and technology to tackle crime and reassure residents, ensuring officers are equipped to respond to evolving criminal behaviour.