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Durham police chief calls officer who drew up force's cycling policy a "single-issue zealot" (+ video)Mike Barton (via BBC Radio 5 Live on Twitter).JPG

Durham police chief calls officer who drew up force's cycling policy a "single-issue zealot" (+ video)

Chief constable also said on national radio that nervous cyclists shouldn't ride a bike...
by Simon_MacMichael
Tue, Sep 11, 2018 13:30
52

The head of Durham Constabulary has branded one of his officers who drew up the force’s cycling policy “a single-issue zealot.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, chief constable Mike Barton – who later ripped up the policy – also said that “nervous” cyclists should not ride a bike.

 “We had a bicycle policy,” said Chief Constable Barton, whose comments were widely criticised on Twitter.

“So if police officers were riding a bike there was a policy. It was 30-odd pages.

“So the sergeant who had written it, he was a single-issue zealot. I know that’s being rude.

“He wanted the world to be cyclists and he wanted them to be safe cyclists. So he was going to surround them with rules.

“I think page 32, he described how police bicycles shouldn’t be used as police pursuit vehicles,” the c chief constable continued..

“And you know, Bradley Wiggins doesn’t work for me, so the chances of one of my officers riding a bicycle chasing a car is frankly ludicrous, so why put it in a policy?

“So I just swept it aside. ‘Look’, I said, ‘if you’re nervous, do a Cycling Proficiency Test. If you’re really nervous even after that, don’t ride a bike. By the way, if you think you can get away with Lycra, by all means wear it, but I’m not telling you to. And deal with it with a bit of humour’,” he added.

At that point the show’s presenter interjected with “That’s 30 pages condensed right down there in three lines.”

“Precisely,” he replied. “In any given circumstance, do the right thing regardless of the consequences.”

The chief constable’s comments come just a month after his own force launched a close pass operation targeting motorists who overtake cyclists too closely.

Just as they do for other areas of policing, many police forces across the UK have cycling policies in force – although when it comes to bicycles, it’s something that has been met at times with derision from some elements of the press.

> Police guidance for cycle cops ridiculed ... again

Durham Constabulary
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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52 comments

Avatar
davel | 5 years ago
1 like

.

 

Avatar
john1967 | 5 years ago
2 likes

what a complete prick.

 

Mr Barton do you also believe nervouse drivers shouldnt get behind the wheel of a car.

Avatar
vonhelmet replied to john1967 | 5 years ago
2 likes
john1967 wrote:

what a complete prick.

 

Mr Barton do you also believe nervouse drivers shouldnt get behind the wheel of a car.

Behind the wheel of a police car, you mean.

Avatar
David9694 | 5 years ago
4 likes

Good luck, Sargeant Zealot, with your grievance case.

Avatar
pockstone | 5 years ago
3 likes

It would be interesting to hear the Chief Constable's thoughts on Durham Constabulary's racial equality, disability discrimination and sex equality policies.

Do they mirror his thoughts on the cycling policy, or is this the only one he dare voice his opinions on?

Avatar
Zigster | 5 years ago
4 likes

Not quite what I was thinking but ...

But do the police have regulations on what shoes to wear when "proceeding along the pavement"?  Or perhaps rules that they should wait for the green man when crossing the road rather just than scampering across when there is a gap in the traffic?

It's not teaching them "how" to walk as someone facetiously misinterpreted my comment above, but how to behave when on duty and a representative of the police.

I know how to dress myself in the morning, but my employer still has a policy on acceptable dress when in the office.  I know how to drive, but my employer still has a policy on using my car on business. I know how to use the internet, but my employer has a policy on appropriate use of company laptops.  (I'm working from home today so am wearing jeans, walked to the back of the garden to my home office, and am using my ipad for this comment ...)

Without sight of the policy document, it's pretty hard to say whether or not the Chief Constable was being a dick.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Zigster | 5 years ago
0 likes
Zigster wrote:

Not quite what I was thinking but ...

But do the police have regulations on what shoes to wear when "proceeding along the pavement"?  Or perhaps rules that they should wait for the green man when crossing the road rather just than scampering across when there is a gap in the traffic?

It's not teaching them "how" to walk as someone facetiously misinterpreted my comment above, but how to behave when on duty and a representative of the police.

I know how to dress myself in the morning, but my employer still has a policy on acceptable dress when in the office.  I know how to drive, but my employer still has a policy on using my car on business. I know how to use the internet, but my employer has a policy on appropriate use of company laptops.  (I'm working from home today so am wearing jeans, walked to the back of the garden to my home office, and am using my ipad for this comment ...)

Without sight of the policy document, it's pretty hard to say whether or not the Chief Constable was being a dick.

Your employer has separate policies on how to behave, dress etc. which is why your employer doesn't need to have a "walking" policy and similarly neither do the police. They'll have lots of info about how to behave in public and how to deal with the public and that will be applicable whether they're walking, cycling or roller-blading.

Driving would be an exception as I imagine that police drivers would need lots of extra training as they'll be dealing with potentially very dangerous situations that could easily maim/kill bystanders. It'd be difficult to walk so badly as to injure other people.

Avatar
Zigster | 5 years ago
2 likes

I understood this to be a policy document on how police officers should use their bikes when on duty.

32 pages sounds excessive to me, but how does it compare to similar documents for police officers using a car when on duty, or even police officers using their feet (i.e. walking) when on duty?  I bet there are lenghty documents for both those activities.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Zigster | 5 years ago
1 like
Zigster wrote:

I understood this to be a policy document on how police officers should use their bikes when on duty.

32 pages sounds excessive to me, but how does it compare to similar documents for police officers using a car when on duty, or even police officers using their feet (i.e. walking) when on duty?  I bet there are lenghty documents for both those activities.

Today I learnt that police need a lengthy policy document to tell them how to walk.

Myself, I learned how to do that when I was but a toddler.

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to Zigster | 5 years ago
5 likes
Zigster wrote:

I understood this to be a policy document on how police officers should use their bikes when on duty.

32 pages sounds excessive to me, but how does it compare to similar documents for police officers using a car when on duty, or even police officers using their feet (i.e. walking) when on duty?  I bet there are lenghty documents for both those activities.

  1. Left hand holding right (palm-to-back of hand) behind your back.
  2. Toes turned outwards.
  3. Back straight.
  4. Proceed slowly forward.
  5. Every 10 paces, bend both knees, bobbing with back straight.
  6. Say "Evenin' all".
  7. Repeat.
Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Dnnnnnn | 5 years ago
5 likes
Duncann wrote:
Zigster wrote:

I understood this to be a policy document on how police officers should use their bikes when on duty.

32 pages sounds excessive to me, but how does it compare to similar documents for police officers using a car when on duty, or even police officers using their feet (i.e. walking) when on duty?  I bet there are lenghty documents for both those activities.

  1. Left hand holding right (palm-to-back of hand) behind your back.
  2. Toes turned outwards.
  3. Back straight.
  4. Proceed slowly forward.
  5. Every 10 paces, bend both knees, bobbing with back straight.
  6. Say "Evenin' all".
  7. Repeat.

You missed out the thoughtful chin pose, or is that detailed in the "standing still" policy documents?

 

Avatar
FluffyKittenofT... replied to hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
3 likes
hawkinspeter wrote:
Duncann wrote:
Zigster wrote:

I understood this to be a policy document on how police officers should use their bikes when on duty.

32 pages sounds excessive to me, but how does it compare to similar documents for police officers using a car when on duty, or even police officers using their feet (i.e. walking) when on duty?  I bet there are lenghty documents for both those activities.

  1. Left hand holding right (palm-to-back of hand) behind your back.
  2. Toes turned outwards.
  3. Back straight.
  4. Proceed slowly forward.
  5. Every 10 paces, bend both knees, bobbing with back straight.
  6. Say "Evenin' all".
  7. Repeat.

You missed out the thoughtful chin pose, or is that detailed in the "standing still" policy documents?

 

 

There must be an official guide to 'addressing the public in a sarcastic manner'.  They definitely get training in that.

Avatar
davel replied to FluffyKittenofTindalos | 5 years ago
1 like
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
hawkinspeter wrote:
Duncann wrote:
Zigster wrote:

I understood this to be a policy document on how police officers should use their bikes when on duty.

32 pages sounds excessive to me, but how does it compare to similar documents for police officers using a car when on duty, or even police officers using their feet (i.e. walking) when on duty?  I bet there are lenghty documents for both those activities.

  1. Left hand holding right (palm-to-back of hand) behind your back.
  2. Toes turned outwards.
  3. Back straight.
  4. Proceed slowly forward.
  5. Every 10 paces, bend both knees, bobbing with back straight.
  6. Say "Evenin' all".
  7. Repeat.

You missed out the thoughtful chin pose, or is that detailed in the "standing still" policy documents?

 

 

There must be an official guide to 'addressing the public in a sarcastic manner'.  They definitely get training in that.

That's level 2 comms.

Level 1 is overly officious to ensure you come across all thick-like.

'I was proceeding in a Westerly direction...' Do fuck off, roboplod.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to davel | 5 years ago
1 like
davel wrote:

That's level 2 comms.

Level 1 is overly officious to ensure you come across all thick-like.

'I was proceeding in a Westerly direction...' Do fuck off, roboplod.

I've long thought that film to be underrated. Paul Verhoeven stuffs that film full of satire (I'm not a fan of the Christian interpretation of it, though) and even has gender neutral changing rooms (similar to the also underrated Starship Troopers).

Avatar
brooksby replied to hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
2 likes
hawkinspeter wrote:
davel wrote:

That's level 2 comms.

Level 1 is overly officious to ensure you come across all thick-like.

'I was proceeding in a Westerly direction...' Do fuck off, roboplod.

I've long thought that film to be underrated. Paul Verhoeven stuffs that film full of satire (I'm not a fan of the Christian interpretation of it, though) and even has gender neutral changing rooms (similar to the also underrated Starship Troopers).

"Do you want to know more?"

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to brooksby | 5 years ago
1 like
brooksby wrote:
hawkinspeter wrote:
davel wrote:

That's level 2 comms.

Level 1 is overly officious to ensure you come across all thick-like.

'I was proceeding in a Westerly direction...' Do fuck off, roboplod.

I've long thought that film to be underrated. Paul Verhoeven stuffs that film full of satire (I'm not a fan of the Christian interpretation of it, though) and even has gender neutral changing rooms (similar to the also underrated Starship Troopers).

"Do you want to know more?"

"It's back. Big is back, because bigger is better. 6000 SUX - an American tradition!"

 

Avatar
jazzdude | 5 years ago
1 like

Well at least we have all the information and all of the Polic Cheif's comments were reported in context and the article was written so that the points to consider were made quite clear, otherwise we might start jumping to conclusions and and calling people a dick unjustly.

Avatar
davel replied to jazzdude | 5 years ago
0 likes
jazzdude wrote:

Well at least we have all the information and all of the Polic Cheif's comments were reported in context and the article was written so that the points to consider were made quite clear, otherwise we might start jumping to conclusions and and calling people a dick unjustly.

I'll nibble.

Did the chief constable, discussing policy on national radio, say the thing that I said made him a dick?

Avatar
jazzdude | 5 years ago
0 likes

Well at least we have all the information and all of the Polic Cheif's comments were reported in context and the article was written so that the points to consider were made quite clear, otherwise we might start jumping to conclusions and and calling people a dick unjustly.

Avatar
ConcordeCX | 5 years ago
4 likes

I could easily write a 32-page police policy yer 'onour: 

When perambulatin' hupon their velocipedal vehickles in a peaceable hand law-abidin' manner, constables of heither gender, them bein' heither of the masculine type or, alternatively of the feminine, that is to say, weaker, sex (pardon my blushes, yer 'onour), or them circumstances bein' hinappropriate as it may perchance 'appen, and the aforementioned constable bein' of hunspecified gender or none,  nevertheless, said perambulations not necessitatin' the accelerated pursuit subject to PACE 1978 clause 137ii sub-section 94, of a non-velocipedal, or combustion-type vehicle having a plurality of wheelage exceeding the number one (1), that is, in the common vernacular, a motor cycle or car, neither of the aforementioned bein' unicycular...

and on and on...

 

Avatar
ChairRDRF | 5 years ago
8 likes

 26 of the 42 Police Services in the UK attended our Road Danger Reduction Forum September 2017 training day (with West Midlands Police Road Harm Reduction Team) on policing close passing of cyclists. 3 others have been involved in joint operations, 5 others have shown interest or run operations. Durham were one of the very few disregarding cyclists.

Avatar
shay cycles | 5 years ago
0 likes

Here's a suggesting for a new, brief, policy for Police officers in Durham who want to ride a bike. This policy takes into account the need for specialist equipment, the need for road safety and the need to be able to cycle:

1) If you can ride a bike then swing you leg over the saddle, feet on pedals, hands on bars, look around you and off you go 

2) If you can't ride a bike sign up to free "learn to ride" sessions (which of course the CC should arrange) and then see (1) above

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avatar
Hirsute replied to shay cycles | 5 years ago
2 likes
shay cycles wrote:

Here's a suggesting for a new, brief, policy for Police officers in Durham who want to ride a bike. This policy takes into account the need for specialist equipment, the need for road safety and the need to be able to cycle:

1) If you can ride a bike then swing you leg over the saddle, feet on pedals, hands on bars, look around you and off you go 

2) If you can't ride a bike sign up to free "learn to ride" sessions (which of course the CC should arrange) and then see (1) above

Just a strawman though.

The recent clip of the bike pursuit we had on road.cc - say the officer was only within touching distance of the 'crim' - should he take him out with a clash of front on back wheels? What circumstances would this be ok? What circumstances would it not be ok?

How does an officer pursue a teenage 'crim' ? What safeguards are required? How do other policies impact on this policy?

I'm sure you can add plenty more.

Avatar
whobiggs | 5 years ago
7 likes

"the chances of one of my officers chasing a car is frankly ludicrous"

 

and we all know that the only way to operate is in a car, nothing ever happens outside of one does it? 

Avatar
burtthebike | 5 years ago
2 likes

Don't I recall two very recent stories on here where the perps were caught by cyclists?  Maybe the CC needs to think a little deeper.

Given the speed of local traffic on our congested roads, chasing a car with a bike is not exactly far-fetched, is it?

Avatar
Hirsute replied to burtthebike | 5 years ago
0 likes
burtthebike wrote:

Given the speed of local traffic on our congested roads, chasing a car with a bike is not exactly far-fetched, is it?

And you get to ride on the pavement, jump red lights and ride the wrong way up a one way street - all legit !

Avatar
peted76 | 5 years ago
2 likes

I think if I were ever interviewed about anything vaguley important I think I would wholehartedly cock up communicating and say the wrong thing whilst trynig to communicate something which in my head would be entirely sensible. This reminds me of another silly escalation of a conversation my wife had with the school nurse the other month.. the phone converation went like this.. 

Nurse: Hi is that WifeD

Wife: Yes, who's this?

Nurse: I'm Mrs Hatchet the School Nurse

Wife: Oh! Is DiddyD okay?

Nurse: I'm afraid there's been an accident

Wife: Oh my god what's happened. Is she okay?

Nurse: DiddyD crossed the road..

Wife: Oh my god is she okay, what's happened

Nurse:..to get to the canteen.. 

Wife: IS SHE OKAY!!

Nurse:.. and she trapped her finger in the door..

Wife: What? Oh my god, is it still connected...

Nurse: Her finger appears fine, but she's very upset and we'd reccomend you took her to hospital to get an x-ray*

 

(*Nothing serious at all it turns out.. treatment for DiddyD involved a plaster, a bangage and some ice cream).

 

 

 

Avatar
Morgoth985 replied to peted76 | 5 years ago
1 like
peted76 wrote:

I think if I were ever interviewed about anything vaguley important I think I would wholehartedly cock up communicating and say the wrong thing whilst trynig to communicate something which in my head would be entirely sensible. This reminds me of another silly escalation of a conversation my wife had with the school nurse the other month.. the phone converation went like this.. 

Nurse: Hi is that WifeD

Wife: Yes, who's this?

Nurse: I'm Mrs Hatchet the School Nurse

Wife: Oh! Is DiddyD okay?

Nurse: I'm afraid there's been an accident

Wife: Oh my god what's happened. Is she okay?

Nurse: DiddyD crossed the road..

Wife: Oh my god is she okay, what's happened

Nurse:..to get to the canteen.. 

Wife: IS SHE OKAY!!

Nurse:.. and she trapped her finger in the door..

Wife: What? Oh my god, is it still connected...

Nurse: Her finger appears fine, but she's very upset and we'd reccomend you took her to hospital to get an x-ray*

 

(*Nothing serious at all it turns out.. treatment for DiddyD involved a plaster, a bangage and some ice cream).

 

This is brilliant, though I appreciate not so much at the time.  The words "bedside manner" spring to mind.

Avatar
vonhelmet | 5 years ago
4 likes

32 pages doesn’t seem that unreasonable, given how bureaucratic this country is. I could easily write 32 pages about cycling, and that’s without a police angle. 32 pages about cycling for fun? Easy. Cycling competitively? 32 and then some. 32 about cycle commuting? Yep. So no, 32 pages about cycling for a police job doesn’t sound that stupid.

I’ll bet there’s more than a pamphlet on police driving.

Avatar
LarryDavidJr replied to vonhelmet | 5 years ago
5 likes
vonhelmet wrote:

I’ll bet there’s more than a pamphlet on police driving.

Indeed
 

http://www.roadcraft.co.uk/roadcraft/

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