Police motorbikes bought – by Essex force

Friday 27th January 2006, 12:00AM GMT.

ESSEX police are likely to buy seven redundant motorbikes from their Jersey counterparts to re-establish a motorbike unit seven years after scrapping the service.

The States police decided last year that their motorbike unit should be disbanded so resources could be diverted to ‘intelligence led’ policing.

But mystery surrounds the exact status of the bikes following inquiries made yesterday by the JEP.

Initially, Deputy Chief Officer Lenny Harper said he was not aware the bikes were to be transported out of the Island to new owners.

However, following further inquiries, the JEP informed Mr Harper that they are due to leave on 6 February.

Later, Mr Harper said the States police no longer owned the bikes, reponsibility for which fell to Supt John Pearson who is out of the Island until Monday.

Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.