Segway sand patrols: Two-wheeled aids for force in finding missing beachcombers

The first police Segway patrol service is being launched on Britain’s most famous surfing beach.

From now until September, trained officers will use the two-wheeled personal transporters for community policing at the Fistral beach in Newquay.

The motorised devices will mainly be used to search for missing people on beaches around the resort as well as public reassurance and crime prevention patrols between Crantock and Watergate Bay.

Newquay is famous for its outstanding beaches, which at low tide cover several square miles and run along a strip of coastline that can be difficult to patrol.

More than 1,800 police forces across the globe successfully operate Segways for community policing and traffic control, with Devon and Cornwall Police being the launch pad for operations on a day-to-day basis interacting with the public.

Fitted with off road tyres for use on the sand, the force claims the Segway will be well suited to beach patrols as it is small, quiet, and will allow convenient access to beach areas that would not be possible with a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Inspector Dave Meredith said: “The Segway supports the force`s green agenda and gives local officers the ability to search and patrol large beach areas that would otherwise be challenging to access.

“It will also enable officers to talk to visitors and residents throughout the beach areas, and have a positive impact on public confidence.

“This is a pilot project which is running throughout the summer until about mid-September, when we will review it and make a decision about whether to retain them.

“We are the first force in the whole country to use them and I`m delighted that we are embracing this technology and using them to good effect.

The use of the Segway, which can travel at speeds of up to 12mph, will be confined to occasional beach patrols and will not be used to patrol pavements, roads, or the town centre. Initial ‘off-beach’ training was held at nearby RAF St Mawgan.

Superintendent Ian Drummond-Smith added: “We have been given them free of charge by Segway UK so this is a really good opportunity to use them for the summer, try them out and see exactly what benefit they will be able to give us.

“There are lots of beaches in Newquay and when the tide is out you can go all the way from Towan and access four or so beaches.

“We have a lot of missing people so they are really useful to cover a lot of ground quickly.”

Dave Smith, of Segway UK, said: “We are delighted to support Devon and Cornwall Police by supplying the Segway Personal Transporter on loan for a pilot project to use on the town’s beaches for the 2016 summer season.

“The Segway X2 is well suited to this type of terrain and will assist the police in high visibility patrols and community policing.”