Fife officers use Segway scooter

Officers in Fife Police are to begin using the battery-powered scooter Segway.

The initiative has already been rolled out at the Kingdom Shopping Centre in Glenrothes.

At present, two officers are using the £3,000 scooter – which is capable of speeds of up to 12mph and operates forward and backward by a gentle leaning motion.

PC Matt Ronan, spokesman for the Glenrothes Retail Crime Unit, said: “It’s a bit like skiing, using your knees and your ankles.

“It’s a very stable platform. Initially you tend to rock but once you gain confidence it’s fine.”

Due to restrictions by the DVLA, officers can use the Segway only on private property.

It is hoped that the initiative will offer a reassuring presence to customers in the malls and will also act as an ice-breaker, gaining visible interest from members of the public, to help increase interaction with security and police officers.

The scooter has a battery life of about six hours with a range of range of up to 24 miles on a single charge.

Police and security agencies worldwide are already using Segway scooters to patrol airports, stations, manufacturing plants and shopping centres.