Locals and visitors alike gave the Bermuda Police two thumbs up for re-implementing pedal cycle patrol in St. George's, but hoped that the programme becomes a year-round venture.

A local woman who works in King's Square said: “It's an excellent idea. We definitely need more of a presence than in the past. Some of the boys have gotten out of hand around here, so if this is going to make them behave better, I'm happy.”

“I think it's the type of thing St. George's needs,” said St. George's town manager, Lance Furbert. “We need to have Police in the streets as opposed to always seeing them driving in their cars.”

Although the initiative only kicked off on Friday, Mr. Furbert said already the Police were making the grade. “Everything that I've heard about this idea has been positive,” he said.

Mr. Furbert added that having the officers on bikes made it easier for them to respond to calls when needed.

“Just this morning, someone struck a wall and P.c. Worswick was here in an instant to take details. All he had to do was prop the bike up against a wall.”

Barry and Barbara Conway, of New Hampshire, who had only arrived on the Island hours earlier aboard the Horizon, said they felt more comfortable knowing that Police would be patrolling St. George's.

“I think it's a good idea. The more visibility the better. It's good to know they are not only here to protect and serve but also to help people who need information or who are lost,” said Mr. Conway.

“There are so many first-time scooter riders who need reminders of what side of the road to travel on, so they definitely will be needed for that,” his wife said. One taxi driver, who did not wish to be identified, said he was looking forward to seeing the Police around more, “because it would be in the best interest of the community, it is going to make a lot of people feel safer and hopefully will stop a lot of vagabonds from running around down here”.

He added: “They need to have more respect for the community.”

Although he praised the revamped initiative, an employee of the Paradise Gift Shop said he did not feel the number of officers on the cycle team were enough, saying: “There's been a lot of things happening down here in recent months, especially in the bars, so I think there are not enough. We definitely need more, especially during Market Night on Tuesdays.”

Debbie Amon, of New Jersey who was at Fort St. Catherine Beach said she definitely felt safe knowing that the Police were around regularly: “You feel more secure. Sometimes when you're at the beaches, there's no one around if help is needed.”

However, the four-time visitor to the Island said she hoped the Police are able to expand the programme into the winter months: “It's just as important in the off-season because there are less tourists around, giving trouble makers a better opportunity to think they could get away with things.”

A local man at the beach agreed with her: “This is something that should have been done a long time ago. I come down here all the time and watch young guys scoping out tourists so they could rob them. It's got to stop,” he said.

“The Police should do this all year. Bermuda is a tourist destination 12 months of the year.”