Bike tagging pledge for Cycling City

Police in Bristol will carry out electronic tagging on bikes as part of the city’s contribution to National Bike Week.

Bristol is the UK’s first Cycling City and will be marking the week with a series of events, including several police roadshows.

Avon and Somerset Police have teamed up with the Safer Bristol Partnership to raise awareness of cycling security and to give advice on preventing bike theft.

Officers will be at a number of locations in Bristol throughout the week, dishing out out tips and advice, giving away copies of the 'Spokes' bike security leaflet, helping people register their bikes on the Immobilise Database and carrying out electronic tagging on bikes.

Bristol Police Constable Frank Simonds, who is involved in the roadshows, said: "Bristol is the UK's first Cycling City, with many fantastic opportunities to get out and ride.

"Our aim is to ensure the roads and cycle paths are a safe and secure place to be a cyclist, be it for leisure or commuting."

Emily Smith, Community Safety Officer with the Safer Bristol Partnership, added: "These events are proving really popular with cyclists helping them to keep their bikes and themselves safe. We have worked hard as a partnership to make the cycle paths in Bristol safe places to ride and we know how much people enjoy riding on them."

Police and community safety officers will be on hand to answer questions, distribute further advice and the 'the Spokes' leaflets as well as carry out electronic tagging of bikes on:

* June 17 from 7.30am to 9.30am at Bristol's Bike & Walk Breakfast - College Green

* June 19 from 10am to 4pm at Stoke Road on Durdham Downs.

* June 21 from 9am to 6pm - Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride - Millennium Square

To cap off National Bike Week a team of PCSOs and police officers will also be mounting their bikes to take part in Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride, including PC Andy Stamp, who will be aboard a unicycle.