Tour de France no holiday for South Yorkshire officers

HOLIDAY for South Yorkshire Police officers is being “controlled” by the force during this summer’s Tour de France in England – while all rest day leave has been cancelled.

Neil Bowles, chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said there seems to be “lots of once in a lifetime events” affecting officers in the force, after similar restrictions were placed on officers during the 2012 Olympics.

South Yorkshire Police is restricting leave applications in and around July 4 and 5 when the world renowned cycling event comes to Yorkshire.

The Tour’s stage 2 will start in York and go through Knaresborough, Keighley, over Holme Moss into the Peak District National Park before finishing after 124 miles (200km) at Sheffield Arena.

Similar restrictions are being placed on officers in North and West Yorkshire Police.

“There is going to be a huge influx of people watching the cycling,” said Mr Bowles.

“It is another once in a life time occasion – like the Olympics were. We seem to be having lots of once in a lifetime events Again, it is our members that suffer for the enjoyment of the public to watch the event. Some police officers were planning to watch it themselves – but that opportunity has obviously gone.”

Chief Superintendent Barry South of West Yorkshire Police, said: “The staging of the Yorkshire Grande Depart is a great honour and is already generating considerable interest and excitement throughout Yorkshire and beyond.

“We are therefore expecting it to be a very large scale public event and we are working closely with local authorities and other partners including TDF hub 2014 to ensure all appropriate resources are in place.

The race is to start on the Headrow in Leeds and head out of the city north towards Harewood. It is also to visit Ilkley, Otley, Ripon, Skipton and Hawes before finishing after 118 miles (190km) in Harrogate.