GOING back to basics with pedal power is paying off for police in Southampton.

A new squad of cycle cops has already clocked up four arrests with their swift and silent approach. The city's first tactical cycle unit was officially launched yesterday to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour across Southampton's parks and open spaces. The team of 11 officers, based at Hulse Road divisional headquarters, is proving a success by beating patrol calls to several emergency incidents. In its first two weeks the bike unit has arrested a suspected drink-driver and two men wanted on suspicion of disorderly behaviour.

Earlier this week, an officer also raced to a house burglary on the Flowers estate and arrested a 14-year-old boy. The uniformed cyclists are clocking up 26 miles each day, spending up to seven hours of a ten-hour shift on patrol. Police spokeswoman Lucy Dibdin said: "They have already been called out to indecent assaults and burglaries, and have been kept busy doing stop-checks and chasing shoplifters. The response from the public has been overwhelming."

The team has been provided with six hi-spec mountain bikes equipped with blue flashing lights, sirens and Hampshire police livery by Southampton City Council at a cost of £12,000.