South Birmingham College

South Birmingham College has sponsored a police bike for officers covering the Hall Green Campus as part of a drive to foster good relations between police and students. It has been donated to the Hall Green North Neighbourhood area of West Midlands Police East Sector.

The all-terrain mountain bike will allow officers to cover more ground and therefore increase the number of patrols throughout Hall Green.One of the officers who will be using it is PCSO Giovanni Esposito. He said: "The main thing is it can help us get from one end of Hall Green to the other in a third of the time, which leaves us free to do our jobs. "We can now patrol three of four times a day and this increased visibility makes people feel safer.

"We can also increase trust and confidence with the students in Hall Green by visiting the campus more frequently and finding out their problems and priorities.

"It's a generous donation and we want to say thank you to the College."

Principal Mike Hopkins, himself a keen cyclist, presented the bike and intends to sponsor another bike for officers to use in the area around the College's Bordesley Green campus. The college has already sponsored a bike for police in the Digbeth area.

He said: "For us to work with the police is very important. We have 15,000 students and they have a fantastic relationship with the police.

"We have no problems with crime in the College and as well as the ethos of the college I think a part of this is how officers here meet and talk to our students." Individuals wanting to find out more about courses at South Birmingham College should call Admissions on 0121 694 5000 or email: admissions@sbc.ac.uk