Halfords, the country’s leading cycling retailer and repairs provider has donated two electric bikes to officers in the Sussex Police force. This will allow local officers to patrol their patch on two wheels and better support their local communities.

The donation comes after Special Constable Richard Hepburn contacted Halfords outlining his vision for getting officers out of patrol cars and vans and giving them a greener option when out on the beat. Halfords was happy to support, donating two Carrera Subway E 2.0 e-bikes for use by the Sussex Police force.

The bikes RRP at £1099 and feature a motor that pedal-assists the rider at speeds up to 15.5mph, with a range of up to 40 miles on a single charge. Their versatility means they will be hugely beneficial to officers in a variety of situations.

Officers collected the bikes from the Burgess Hill Halfords store a fortnight ago and have already been using them out in the community. They’re proving extremely popular with colleagues, with officers needing to move quickly to book them out.

Since the coronavirus pandemic, Halfords has seen sales of e-bikes soar. Of the 36% of people who bought a new bike since the start of the pandemic, almost a quarter (24%) opted to go electric. The retailer has also been working hard to get Britain back on a bike, carrying out hundreds of thousands of free 32-point bike checks.

Paul Tomlinson, cycling director at Halfords said:

“Halfords was thrilled to be able to support Sussex Police with this donation.

“These Carrera e-bikes will enable officers to efficiently patrol areas which would be impossible to navigate in a police car or van. We hope this will be a fantastic addition for the force’s community policing and crime prevention abilities.

“Officers will be able to beat the traffic in pursuit of suspects or to assist in emergencies, using an emissions free form of electric transport.”

 Special Constable Richard Hepburn of the Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Policing Team said:

“These are our first E-bikes in Mid Sussex and we are excited to explore the benefits they bring. Our PCSOs and PCs already make good use of our standard bicycles, however the distances and terrain we cover is obviously limited; the equipment we carry doesn’t help us either.

“With these E-bikes we can now stay out on the bikes for longer, travel greater distances and effectively target areas a patrol car can’t; footpaths, parks, garage blocks and secluded areas in town, as well as areas subjected to antisocial behaviour and drug use.

“We also tend to have far more face-to-face interactions with members of the community when we’re on a bike, as opposed to being in a vehicle, which really helps to increase public engagement – a core principle of community policing.

“E-bikes combine the benefits of being on traditional foot patrol with the mobility required of today’s policing needs, and we’re very grateful to Halfords for this kind gesture.”