Sneaky . . . but interesting

**Horse** · 30-05-12, 15:01

In last week's MCN (only just got to see it), and article based on FOI requests to police forces who use unmarked bikes.

Oh dear . . .

OK, so no details of what incidents they were involved in - but they're not short of them! [And, just a thought, it doesn't discriminate for (if) any used in non-'traffic' type covert work]

Doesn't help for any trainer suggesting that 'police techniques' are the way to go . . .

**ninja** · 30-05-12, 15:28

What do you mean then? What is FOI?

**Taipan** · 30-05-12, 15:36

Freedom Of Information.

Freedom of information : Directgov - Government, citizens and rights

**saga_lout** · 30-05-12, 15:38

I can't find it on the MCN website. Do I have to buy the rag to find out what you're on about?

**Horse** · 30-05-12, 15:49

Originally Posted by saga_lout

I can't find it on the MCN website. Do I have to buy the rag to find out what you're on about?

Yep. And unless you're quick taking your chair into WHSmith then this week's'll be on the shelves tomorrow . . .

Only mention on the website (that I could find) is as a trigger for a poll.

**Tomcat** · 30-05-12, 15:54

Any chance of a precis?

**demographic** · 30-05-12, 16:50

Looks like we're going to have to do a Freedom Of Information request to find out the contents of this article

**Horse** · 30-05-12, 18:30

Originally Posted by Tomcat

Any chance of a precis?

Every police force running unmarked bikes seems be crashing them too - sometimes with injuries.

**Thermostat9** · 30-05-12, 18:34

Originally Posted by Horse

Every police force running unmarked bikes seems be crashing them too - sometimes with injuries.

In what way does this compare with the crashing and injury from marked bikes.....?

**saga_lout** · 30-05-12, 18:36

Originally Posted by Horse

Every police force running unmarked bikes seems be crashing them too - sometimes with injuries.

Oh, that's... erm... interesting.

But which bit is sneaky, the crashing or the injuries?

**Horse** · 30-05-12, 18:43

Originally Posted by Thermostat9

In what way does this compare with the crashing and injury from marked bikes.....?

Well, since the usual justification for runn ik ng unmarked bikes, particularly along 'biker' haunts, is to 'improve safety', it srt of spoils the effect . . .

**Olly** · 30-05-12, 18:51

Originally Posted by Horse

Well, since the usual justification for runn ik ng unmarked bikes, particularly along 'biker' haunts, is to 'improve safety', it srt of spoils the effect . . .

Do we have to tease this out of you one snippet at a time?

How does the accident rate compare to a) marked bikes, and b) non-police bikes?

**Thermostat9** · 30-05-12, 18:54

Originally Posted by Horse

Well, since the usual justification for runn ik ng unmarked bikes, particularly along 'biker' haunts, is to 'improve safety', it srt of spoils the effect . . .

Ah!

Round here the unmarked bike seems to be used to catch bad drivers rather than riders - but they chose to get a R1200RT in 'civilian' blueish grey to replace a green Pan European!

**Editor** · 30-05-12, 19:35

years ago there was quite an interesting piece in Ride about an unmarked R1 that seemed to have brief to whatever it liked-I think it might have been a rapid response function on the motorways. Anyhow the rider was talking about how to make very rapid progress & the nub of it was to do it so he didn't scare the horses i.e. not undertaking mrs miggins's micra on the M1 at full chat. No traffic however=no rules. I wonder what kind of incidents we're talking about? Can't be loss of control ones surely? Getting flagged by the helicopter for doing 170 might count though!