BTP’s specialist police medics in London were deployed on bikes for the first time over the weekend in a move to decrease their deployment time.
The officers will now deploy on bikes during busy periods, such as during the night time economy, rush hour and at events. They will primarily respond to crimes, medical incidents and rail operational incidents likely to have an impact on London Underground services in Zone 1 and Zone 2.
BTP said the move will support the joint Network Incident Response Team (NIRT) it maintains with Transport for London (TfL). Formed in 2011, this team brings together officers with advanced medic capabilities and London Underground’s most senior deployable operational managers, to responds to incidents on the Underground, assists passengers and help Tube services to resume.
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Head of the unit inspector Stuart Downs said “every second counts” when a person becomes unwell or suffers an injury on the Tube and that the cycle squad will “massively decrease” the unit’s response time in congested central areas of the capital.
He added: “Cycling is an efficient, safe and environmentally friendly way of getting around the capital. The use of the bikes by our existing officers will help cut our deployment time, helping to keep the network moving safely and securely.
“Our cycle response capability is in addition to the established NIRT vehicles, which transport a senior operation manager from TfL as well as vital equipment such as stretchers, specialist extraction equipment and advanced medical supplies.”
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