On the road with bike patrols

Security patrolling by bicycle has become common practice for many police forces around the world. Compared to car or foot patrols, bikes offer an exceedingly effective and efficient way for police and security details to manoeuvre around and gain access to sprawling or heavily built-up environments. Following on from this successful concept, G4S, the private security company charged with safeguarding TU Delft, started a pilot security bike patrol project on the TU campus about a year ago. “This is one of the first times a security company has done this”, says Jan Wijker, one of G4S’s security team leaders for TU Delft.

Campus security bike patrols have subsequently proved effective for many reasons. “By using bikes, the security teams are able to reach a location within five to ten minutes, so they’re fast and provide quick and easy access to the entire site”, Wijker explains. “It’s often the case that there are outsiders – especially local teenagers – just hanging around on the TU campus and intimidating some of the female students. Our bike security guards are especially vigilant regarding such people. And in other emergency situations, such as, for example, people who’ve suffered heart attacks while on the campus, our security bikers have come to the rescue.”

Joey Franz, Ansari van Leeuwaarden and Amit Diepa are three members of G4S’s current team of cycling security guards. “We also help in case there are accidents on roads or traffic is blocked for some reason”, Franz says. “But sometimes it’s as simple as people asking us for directions.”
TU Delft’s security guard bikers are rather conspicuous on campus these days, cycling around on their mountain bikes wearing fluorescent jackets and helmets emblazoned with the G4S security company logo. The G4S security bike team members have undergone special training from the police department for carrying out their duties. TU Delft’s security bikers usually bike around in teams of two, covering the entire campus in randomly chosen routes.

During any week day, two teams of security bikers patrol the campus from six in the morning to half past eight at night. Usually the same teams also patrol some of the TU’s buildings during the day. At night and on weekends, G4S carries out its security patrols by car.
For the security bikers themselves, life on the job is first and foremost an outdoor one. When Franz is asked how much he enjoys his job on those typically cold, windy and rainy Dutch days, he laughingly says: “I just think of the most beautiful woman and suddenly it feels warm.” But on a more serious note, he adds, “It’s my job! We’re well-equipped to handle the weather. Actually, I like being outside much more than my previous security job inside buildings.”

To demonstrate their acquired skills, the security bikers are keen to show this reporter a couple of tricks on their bikes. After a year of bike security patrolling, the experiment has been deemed a success. Wijker: “TU Delft was satisfied with the pilot and therefore we are continuing with this service.” And that’s good news for students. Should they run into any real trouble on campus, don’t hesitate to call G4S security. A bike security guard will then arrive on the scene in a hurry. 

The campus security phone number is (015) 278 2777. In case of emergencies requiring the police, ambulance or fire departments, the Netherlands’ main national emergency hotline number is 112.

Naam: Dirk Wijnands (21)
Studie: Werktuigbouwkunde, derdejaars

“Normaal leef ik van mijn basisbeurs en leen ik tweehonderd euro per maand bij. Maar in vakantiemaanden wil ik wel eens maximaal lenen, zo’n vijfhonderd euro. Ik heb veel schuld. Een half jaar geleden checkte ik het eens. Toen was het ongeveer 10 duizend euro. Hoeveel het nu is hoest ik niet zo een, twee, drie op. Ik hoop uit te komen op 20 duizend euro, maar dat zal wel niet lukken gezien mijn studietempo en omdat ik gewoon veel leen. Ik reken op een schuld van 30 duizend euro.  Zorgen baart de schuld me niet, omdat ik nu nog niet hoef terug te betalen en omdat ik later een goede baan krijg.”