Bright new bikes for Local Police

THE Balearic government has spent 1.5 million euros on 121 new motorbikes for Local Police forces across the island.
Interior minister José María Rodríguez showed them off in public yesterday and said that 81 would remain in Majorca, while 18 will go to Minorca 21 to Ibiza and one to Formentera. The bikes are painted in the colours of the Balearic flag, red and yellow with a purple stripe. Fifty-nine of them are scooters, considered the best for city use; 39 are motorbikes and 28 are more powerful bikes suitable for rugged terrain. The purchase is part of plans to modernise the fleet of vehicles. More than 40 per cent of the motorbikes currently in use are more than four years old. The government pays 75 per cent of the cost of the bikes and the balance is provided by the town councils which benefit. At the end of last year, the government purchased 108 new cars.