Karachi armed police get skates on to hunt criminals

Police in Pakistan’s biggest city are raising a new squad of skating armed officers to pursue criminals in alleyways where cars cannot venture.

The 20-strong team of policemen and women is being trained in Karachi by the special security unit of Sindh police, officials told the Telegraph.

After a month of intensive training the new squad, which will sport inline roller blades, will be deployed around narrow streets, busy signals and shopping centres.

"The force has been set up to control street crime and it will be a weapon-wielding force moving fast on skates," said police spokesman Raja Memon.

Dr Farrukh Ali Lanjhar, commandant of the special investigations unit told local television he was hopeful that the force will help curb street crimes.

"Foot patrolling is an extremely tedious job. Roller skates will give an edge to chase and apprehend [suspects]," he said.

Footage of a training session showed Dr Farrukh confidently skating down stairs and pirouetting while toting an assault rifle. Several of his pistol-wielding pupils appeared less steady on their feet.

Karachi has been notorious for its violent crime. The sprawling mega city of more than 15 million residents was blighted by waves of terrorism, sectarian and political division and brutal organised crime gangs.

The situation has improved in recent years after military-backed operations to flush out terrorist and sectarian groups, but street crime is still a problem.

News of the new squad was met with amusement on social media. Commentators questioned if the city’s badly paved streets were suitable for roller skating pursuits, or whether criminals would be able to escape simply by running up a flight of steps.

Police on skates have been a success elsewhere in the world however. A team of eight has been patrolling Paris tourist spots for nearly 20 years. The French roller cops pose for selfies with visitors as a friendly face of policing, but also carry truncheons and pistols.

London briefly dabbled with skating police, but the Scotland Yard pilot scheme in the capital’s parks was reportedly cancelled because fugitives were able to escape by running on the grass.