Police in St. George's are getting back in the saddle with the re-introduction of pedal cycle patrols.

At a press conference yesterday, Sgt. Darrin Simons, who will be heading up the Eastern Community Beat Officer (CBO) unit, said W.P.c. Cammie Berkeley and P.c. Paul Worswick will form the St. George's Pedal Cycle Team, offering support to the CBO unit.

He spoke of the role the cycle team will play: "These officers will be highly visible and patrol the St. George's and St. David's area.

"Our aim is to bring the community together - we are looking for positive results."

Sgt. Simons said the cycle officers will be patrolling the area heavily, especially throughout the day and it is anticipated that the team will remain in place until the cruise ship season ends in October.

He said that although the idea of a cycle team was not a new one, the initiative had been re-vamped to include more duties than in the past.

Chief Insp. Michael DeSilva gave accolades to the man who played a role in re-introducing the programme "Reserve constable Michael Stewart needs to take credit," he said.

"One day he asked me if he could take one of the cycles that was in the station to do his beat and things took off from there."

Mr. Stewart will help the team during busy periods.

Chief Insp. Michael DeSilva also revealed the appointment of two constables at Eastern CBO yesterday.

The two officers appointed to the CBO unit, P.c. Ian Moe and W.P.c. Roseanne Mienzer, will provide a full range of Police services to the residents of Hamilton, Smith's and St. George's parishes.

They will be especially visible in the St. George's area, which has had been at the centre of several incidents in recent months.

Barbados-born P.c. Moe is no stranger to the Eastern parishes. A 20-year veteran of the Police Service, he has worked in uniform patrol and as a St. George's Parish Constable.

With 16 years' experience under her belt, W.P.c. Mienzer has been attached to various departments including narcotics, traffic enforcement and the Cycle Crime Unit.

But what is being done about the concerns voiced by residents in St.George's regarding violent incidents that have taken place at night?

Sgt. Darrin Simons told The Royal Gazette:"Although the cycle team will be patrolling St. George's during the day, we are looking at them patrolling the area during the evening as well."

He said that the Police were also hoping to increase manpower in the area. Sgt. Simons said that things have begun to be put into place in order to reduce the occurrences of unfavourable incidents in the town square.

According to him, liquor licence checks will be done on a regular basis.

And Sgt. Simons said Police were not the only ones trying to curb the problems in St. George's.

"The staff at Freddie's have just completed training in the BRASS programme. The purpose was to teach responsibility in the bar, such as refusing to serve a patron who appears to have had too much to drink and bartenders ensuring that they are not consuming liquor serving the public."

Sgt. Simons expressed his hope that the Community Beat Officers unit will make a difference in the community:

"We are looking for long-term solutions," he said.

"The Police aren't the only ones who can solve the problems. We don't have all the answers, but we all need to have a partnership in that process."