This is an interesting one. In response to my previous post ‘Cycling coppers: West Midlands Police reply (eventually…)‘ reader [John] posed the following question:

From: John                   March 10, 2010 at 8:35 am

Think also about the CPSOs and traffic control officers who appear to be using motorcycles /scooters as part of their jobs with ‘L’ plates on – have their employers undertaken risk assessments? is it responsible to allow their employees to use vehicles as part of their job when they don’t actually hold licences that are required to ride these competently? Doesn’t it invalidate their insurance?

I have subsequently been sent this poor quality, but nonetheless illuminating mobile phone photograph taken at the traffic lights at Rushall Square on the A461. The person who sent the picture wishes to remain anonymous (it wasn’t [John] the original comment author) – the riders, the photographer recalls, were traffic wardens. All of them seem to be riding on learner plates. The photographer observed the standard of riding of these people was ‘shocking’. We’d both be interested to know just when riding motorcycles three abreast became acceptable behaviour in this country. However, since they all seem to be wearing the high-visibility vests of total immunity, one assumes it’s the usual case of do as we say, not as we do…

It's good to talk. Apparently. Spotted at Rushall Square, 1:04pm, Wednesday, 24th February 2010.