West Midlands Police to offer "training package" to other forces looking to run close pass operation

West Midlands Police say they are to develop a training package so that other forces can easily adopt their much-lauded close pass initiative.

Announced last month, the scheme involves a traffic officer riding the most vulnerable locations for cyclists looking to instantly act upon close passes, distracted driving and other offences. When passed too close, the cycling officer lets a colleague up the road know and the motorist is stopped.

Camden police have already said that they will copy the initiative and the Camden New Journal reports that unlike officers in the West Midlands, their operation has been given no additional funding by the Met. Instead, it is being fitted in around the Safer Neighbourhoods Team’s other commitments.

The Camden operation, which lasts for around two hours, is being run once a week at the tail end of the morning rush hour.

The two forces have been in touch and West Midlands Police have said that they are keen for others to follow suit and will be doing everything they can to help out.

@beztweets @MPSCamden @MPSCamdenTnSgt We're going to develop a training type package hopefully so other forces can just "pick it up & go"

— CMPG - Road Policing (@Trafficwmp) October 6, 2016