FOUR electric bicycles have been added to the Isle of Wight Police arsenal to tackle anti-social behaviour in Sandown, Shanklin, Lake and Ventnor, costing £19,000.

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones provided the funding to buy the bikes for the South Wight Neighbourhood Policing Team (South Wight NPT).

It is hoped they will make police more visible in the community and respond to reports of anti-social behaviour (ADB) quicker.

The bikes are part of Operation Spider, which tackles ASB and associated crimes such as drug-related activity and serious violence.

The £19k provided has come from the Commissioner’s ASB Taskforce fund.

Isle of Wight County Press: From left, PCSO Wheeler, PC Schomberg, PC Davis and PS SharlandFrom left, PCSO Wheeler, PC Schomberg, PC Davis and PS Sharland (Image: Hampshire Police)

Police sergeant Benjamin Sharland, from the South Wight NPT, said: “The bikes have all the benefits of a foot or traditional cycle patrol, but they also increase our patrols times, the distance we can cover, and allow my officers to preserve energy to deal with anything they come across on patrol.

“In the first week alone, the team increased the patrol areas covered by at least three times, and they were able to remain out of the station on patrol for greater amounts of time as well as getting to harder-to-reach locations.”

Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I am committed to driving down ASB, and these e-bikes are a fantastic addition to the work already being carried out by officers on the Isle of Wight.”