Despite the cold, long hours outdoors, Sergeant Ian Connell of Perth's police bike-mounted unit says he never dreads coming to work.

"It may sound a bit of a rubbish comment, but it genuinely is a joy coming to work every day," he told Di Darmody on 720 ABC Perth.

Sgt Connell is part of the 36-member team that has patrolled the Perth CBD and Northbridge area on wheels since April.

High-vis presence

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The team was formed to provide a high-visibility police presence on the streets in an effort to curb crime and anti-social behaviour.

"Compared to a vehicle, we can get to places that cars can't get to and we get there a lot quicker," Sgt Connell said.

"We are regularly first on the scene of incidents — and it also keeps you fit.

"We will be dealing with a stealing complaint one minute, public order complaint the next.

"We are the first port of call and we are only too happy to go to any matter that people want us to go to."

Safer streets

In their fluorescent yellow jackets and specially adapted road bikes, the officers have also found themselves a public target — in a good way — with people regularly coming up to chat and request selfies with the officers.

"I hate to think how many Facebook pages we are on," Sgt Connell said.

He said people have said their high-vis presence had been reassuring.

"We go into shops and people say, 'it looks a lot safer, it feels a lot safer', and that's just because we've got a lot of people whizzing about in high-vis clothing on high-vis bikes and we just seem to be everywhere all the time."

Anti-fall training

The bike unit is staffed by police officers who have done an intensive one-day course which includes anti-fall training.

"Everyone thinks they can ride a bike until they sit on a police bike and then they realise they can't and they can fall off," Sgt Connell said.

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The bicycles are lightweight road bikes made heavier by the additions of a comprehensive lighting system and panniers that hold all the equipment officers need out on the beat.

"It makes it a lot heavier, but it just saves us going back to the police station," Sgt Connell said.

"We like being out there, seeing the public and dealing with stuff outside.

"You won't catch a criminal in a police station."

Social outreach

The bike unit also enjoys promoting its activities on its social media accounts.

"What we try and do with Twitter is give a human side to policing," Sgt Connell said.

"We just like letting people know what we are doing — and if we can stick some humour in there, all the better."

This current iteration is the third time a police bike unit has been formed in Perth and this time Sgt Connell hoped it would stay.

"[It's] one of the best jobs I have ever done in the police," he said.

"They will have to get me out of my seat on the bike with a crowbar."