MEET the newest recruits at the Smithfield police station they're silent and stealthy, quick on their feet and enjoy long rides on the beach.

Tired of seeing offenders flee the moment they spotted a police car, Constable Adam Petersen came up with a plan to put a few of his colleagues on two wheels rather than four and yesterday the station officially welcomed its new bike patrol.

"I just noticed there was a few issues with getting our vehicles into certain spots and I wanted to be able to have a bit of a quieter approach in getting in the areas when crime was occurring," Constable Petersen said.

"Obviously if an offender sees a police vehicle coming down the street they're going to dart and hide from us, whereas if we come quietly down on a bicycle we have more of a chance of catching up with people."

The initiative has come about largely from a groundswell of support by the local community.

A former Neighbourhood Watch group donated their remaining funds to help with buying the bikes and Smithfield-based bike store Discovery Cycles assisted in the purchase of two bikes, equipment and servicing.

Smithfield OIC Sen-Sgt Ed Lukin said the patrols would be used as part of Operation Kerbside, which targets crime trends in the Smithfield division.

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