Brand new e-bike fleet to boost visibility and tackle crime

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has unveiled a brand-new fleet of 32 e-bikes, as part of a £59,200 investment to put more officers back in the heart of local communities.

The roll-out follows a highly successful pilot in Birmingham, which proved that e-bikes enable officers to cover more ground than foot patrols, while remaining more accessible and visible than those in police cars.

The e-bikes, which cost £1,600 each and reach the legal 15.5mph speed limit with electric assistance, are now fully operational in high streets and neighbourhoods across the entire West Midlands region.

The investment directly delivers on a key pledge in the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan 2025-2029 to increase the number of officers deployed on bicycles and on foot.

By embedding e-bikes into the force’s permanent policing model, West Midlands Police can now achieve a deeper reach into areas where traditional vehicles struggle to operate, helping to drive down neighbourhood crime.

The new fleet was officially launched today in Dudley town centre, where Commissioner Foster and local officers attended the High Street to engage with residents and business owners.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, said: “I am committed to rebuilding community policing, because I know that an accessible, reassuring and visible police presence is exactly what our communities want and need.

“These new e-bikes are a smart, effective investment that will ensure our officers are more accessible and visible, and better equipped to prevent and tackle crime.

“By getting officers out of cars and onto our streets, we are building the trust and confidence that is essential to keeping people, families, businesses and communities safe and secure.”

Chief Inspector Adam Henderson, Neighbourhood Policing Lead for Dudley, added: “These e-bikes are a fantastic addition to our operational toolkit. They allow our officers to patrol larger areas more frequently while maintaining that vital face-to-face connection with the public.

“Operationally, they give us the agility to respond quickly to neighbourhood issues and reach areas that patrol cars simply can’t. This isn’t just about new kit; it’s about being in the right place at the right time to keep the people of Dudley and the wider West Midlands safe.”

The 32 e-bikes are now in active use, providing a high-visibility deterrent and supporting the force’s ongoing mission to reduce crime across the West Midlands.