Dubai: Policemen received training in bicycle riding in order to have bicycle patrols in all police stations, police said on Thursday.
Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police, reviewed the bicycle training course at the Dubai Police headquarters. The idea of launching the new cycle patrol is for faster response to emergencies.
Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, said the bicycle patrol would function like a normal police patrol and would handle traffic and criminal cases.
“They will be deployed all over Dubai, especially in the crowd areas. We organised this course for our officers to learn bicycling skills and to learn to deal with situations in any case of emergencies,” Maj. Gen. Al Mansouri said.
The two-week course included training on first aid, catch-and-arrest, shooting skills while driving a bicycle, zigzag riding, riots and law enforcement.
Dubai Police said bicycle patrols can reach small and narrow areas and will also have all necessary equipment and first-aid kits. They would be connected to the command room in case of emergencies, “It will help to enhance our response time in emergency situations in many areas in Dubai,” Maj. Gen. Al Mansouri said.
The officers will have a bicycle helmet with smart features including being linked to a smart app that allows for voice and video transmission, and a system that allows for group calls or conversations.
The helmet can also take video footage and send it live and is also fitted with a GPS tracker so the location of wearers is known at all times.
Earlier last month, police launched bicycle patrols on the beaches.
