Unmarked police motorcycle revealed

Efforts to improve road safety across Dyfed-Powys are to be boosted by two new unmarked police motorbikes.

Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon approved a police force request to buy the Yamaha 1200s for a total of just over £31,500. They will be used around the region for road safety campaigns, speed enforcement duties and general patrols.

Mr Salmon said: “The public regularly tell me that road safety is a concern. I am working with the police and others to address the issue. I’m happy that plain patrol bikes are effective in gathering evidence, aiding successful prosecutions and strengthening the link between officers and the public.”

Dyfed-Powys Police has 14 motorcycles including the two unmarked bikes, with 14 officers qualified to use them. Chief Inspector Ieuan Matthews, in charge of Dyfed-Powys roads policing, said: “We wish to cut the number of incidents of antisocial and illegal road use; the new bikes will help. They will be useful in both educating road users and helping officers to enforce the law.”

The force’s roads policing unit also plans to buy three dome-shaped inflatable units to be used as high-visibility outdoor police bases during campaigns, public events and on community visits. Total cost: £7,733.

What is a Police and Crime Commissioner? PCCs are not the police – as the elected voice of the public, they make the police answerable to the communities they serve. They work in partnership across a range of agencies to ensure a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime. The next PCC elections are in May 2016.

What can they do? PCCs aim to cut crime, deliver an effective and efficient police service, provide stronger and more transparent accountability of the police, hold chief constables and the force to account, ensure community needs are met as effectively as possible and improve local relationships. Day-to-day policing operations are directed by chief constables.