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Teenagers to recycle city's unclaimed bikes
CITY police have come up with a wheelie good initiative aimed at getting youngsters off the street.
CITY police have come up with a wheelie good initiative aimed at getting youngsters off the street.Unclaimed bicycles which have built up in the lost property section at Thorpe Wood police station are to be dusted down, repaired and spruced up by teenagers.
Two officers have undertaken a special bicycle maintenance course and will be hosting the cycle workshops at the Heltwate Community Centre in South Bretton, Peterborough.
Police are currently considering allowing the children to keep the bicycles once they have repaired them.
Sector Inspector Insp Mark Rogers said he first heard about the idea at a police conference and decided it would something that could work here in Peterborough.
He said: “There are bikes about which have been handed in to police and we have been unable to trace the owners.
“Some of these are in need of repair and are worth fixing up.
“The workshops would help keep youngsters off the streets and would also teach them some skills.”
The scheme is being set up thanks to a 500 grant from Peterborough City Council’s community cohesion fund which has enabled officers to buy tools and equipment for the project.
Police community support officers (PCSOs) Martin George and Paul Feane undertook two day bicycle maintenance courses at Halfords and will be leading the regular sessions which will cater for a maximum of 10 youngsters.
PCSO George said: “They will be aimed at secondary school children aged 12-16 years and will give them the chance to do something really worthwhile and practical.
“Not only that, but the workshops will also provide the chance for them to get to know their local neighbourhood policing team.
“Hopefully as a result they will be quite comfortable approaching their local officers, which can only be a good thing.”
Youngsters are likely to be invited to take part from the Bretton area and maybe nearby secondary schools such as the Voyager School in Walton and Jack Hunt School in Netherton.
The workshops are due to be launched in the next few weeks.
Peterborough City Councillor for South Bretton Michael Fletcher welcomed the move. He said: “I think things that give young people something productive to do are a good idea.
“Hopefully it will give them some skills which will be very useful in life.”
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Weather for Peterborough
Friday 10 February 2012
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