The Five Demands

Aleggia sconcerto attorno al PSNI dopo che è stata rivelata una spesa di 450.000 sterline nell’acquisto di biciclette e relativi equipaggiamenti, negli ultimi 3 anni.
Per la precisione, un totale di 451.681,02 steriline sono state spese per l’acquisto di biciclette di massima qualità, assegnate a stazioni di polizia sparse in tutto il Nord, nonostante non sia ancora chiaro la valenza del loro utilizzo.
Un bicicletta costa circa 970 sterline. La maggior parte degli acquisti effettuati dal PSNI’s Procurement Department, risale al 2007/08 quando 83 biciclette sono state comprate ad un costo di 80.510 sterline. Ulterirori  134,557.30 sterline sono state spese per attrezzature quali: caschi per ciclisti, occhiali da sole, giacche fluorescenti, guanti, pantaloni cargo e scarpe speciali.
Il numero di biciclette acquistate durante l’ultimo esercizio finanziario 2008/09,  è sceso a 48, per un costo £ 46.560.
Il PSNI giustifica le spese sostenendo che le biciclette sono appositamente adatte al lavoro di polizia e consentirà una maggiore copertura e una più rapida risposta alle richieste di assistenza.
Jimmy Spratt, membro del Policing Board, si è detto scioccato per l’entità della spesa soprattutto in rapporto agli acclamati problemi di bilancio del PSNI.
“Io non avrei alcun problema se fossero utilizzate su base regolare, ma il punto è che non vengono utilizzate correttamente.”

Shock as PSNI spends £450,000 on new bicycles (Belfast Telegraph)
The PSNI has spent almost half a million pounds on bicycles and biking equipment in the past three years, it can be revealed. A total of £451,681.02 was spent buying 147 top-of-the-range bikes allocated to police stations in all parts of Northern Ireland. Despite the hefty costs however the PSNI was unable to state how often, if at all, the bikes have been used in recent months. According to figures obtained under a Freedom of Information request by this newspaper each bicycle cost £970. The biggest bulk purchase by the PSNI’s Procurement Department was during 2007/08 when 83 bikes were bought at a cost of £80,510. A further £134,557.30 was spent on equipment such as cycle helmets, wrap-round sunglasses, fluorescent jackets, cycling gloves, cargo trousers and special shoes to be used by the 870 officers trained to ride the bikes. The number of bikes bought during the last financial year 2008/09 dropped to 48, costing £46,560. In 2006/07 the PSNI purchased only 16 bicycles totalling £73,624.65. All PSNI stations, including those where the threat from dissident republicans is considered high, have at least two bicycles. In Strabane where dissidents have been active there are nine bicycles for patrolling the streets while in Lurgan, where the Continuity IRA gunned down Constable Steven Carroll (48) in March, officers have two bicycles. The PSNI says the bikes have been specially adapted for police work and allow for greater coverage and quicker response to calls for assistance. A PSNI spokeswoman said: “The use of bicycles is an effective tool for policing within various districts. Officers on bikes are highly effective at targeting specific crime problems as the bicycle allows the officer to catch criminals in the act as they are not easily seen or heard when patrolling.” Policing Board member and former Police Federation Chairman Jimmy Spratt said: “I am shocked at the figure. To have spent half a million pounds on pedal cycles is absolutely scandalous given the police budget problems at this second in time. “I would have no issue if they were being used on a regular basis but the point is they are not being used properly.”