§ COLONEL SIR H. VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in suitable rural districts of the Metropolitan police area, or of cities and boroughs in England, the use of the bicycle is sanctioned and encouraged either for purposes of inspection by inspectors and sergeants, or for the patrolling of beats twice or thrice as often as can be done on foot?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOF THIS HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RIDLEY, Lancs.,) BlackpoolThe use of the bicycle is becoming much more common in the police forces, but chiefly for the purpose of apprehending offenders or conveying urgent messages and despatches. I am not aware that it is used at all for patrolling, or to any considerable degree for purposes of inspection, and I am not sure that, for patrolling, at any rate, it would be altogether desirable.