POLICE have pedalled the equivalent of almost four times the distance between Essex to Italy and back on new cycle patrols.

Colchester and Tendring-based officers have ridden 6,520 miles since the launch of Operation Velo on July 6.

PCSO Larry Warren, of the Clacton West Neighbourhood Policing Team, has covered 525 miles – a feat beaten only by a PCSO from Tilbury who topped the 600-mile mark.

As a team, Colchester officers clocked up a total of 3,110 miles, while their Tendring colleagues rode 3,409 miles.

Cycle cops in the two areas have made 30 arrests since July, the second highest number in the county, and carried out the most stop searches in the county, 446.

Chief Supt Tim Newcomb said: “Officers will continue to use the bikes to patrol our streets.

“The bikes allow us to respond more quickly to incidents than we can on foot as well as being an excellent way of supporting our colleagues.”