Patna, Aug. 12: They are supposed to change gears and vroom to prevent mishaps or nab criminals. But in reality, the Quick Mobile police force scores a zero on the performance front.

The Quick Mobile police teams were constituted about three years ago to fight petty crime. Each police station of the capital has a team of about three to four cops who move around on motorbikes. One bike each was provided to two members of a team. Around Rs 27 lakh was incurred on procuring bikes for the force.

“They are all constable rank policemen who have been given bikes so that they can constantly patrol the areas and concentrate on crimes like snatching. But till date, these men have been able to crack very few cases. Their performance has been very bad despite the fact that they get so many facilities,” a senior police officer said.

At present, there are around 120 constables in the force. The team members are also provided petrol allowance.

“They work in shifts and they don’t have to do any filing work as well. But their performance has been almost nil. The men had been given quite a few other jobs in the recent past but they have not done well in any of them,” the officer added.

However on July 9, the team from Kankerbagh police station had caught four people trying to steal some motorbikes. The team has cracked a few other cases as well.

On the flip side, there have been criticisms, as two members of a particular team were suspended after they allegedly misbehaved with a girl and her guardians on February 4. After the incident, the police decided the pairs needed to be swapped at regular intervals.

“Moreover, there are a few who have not been transferred from a particular police station. They go around collecting money and then give it to the station house officers,” the senior police officer said.

On May 25, the city superintendent of police (SP) then Shivdeep Lande, who is now the city SP central, gave strict instructions to the Quick Mobile teams for regular patrols to nab chain-snatchers. They were also made responsible for following up the incidents. They were ordered to crack cases and nab the culprits within seven days.

“Their work cannot be said to be commendable. They should be fast, alert and make quick catches,” the officer told The Telegraph. The teams had also been asked to visit apartments and keep a check on the entry registers.

“The move was started in the Buddha Colony area early last year after several incidents of theft. The cops were asked to visit the apartments, check the registers and sign on them each day. The patrolling is rarely done now,” another police officer said.

“It is not that the Quick Mobile force are not doing any job. The allegation is not correct. All day long we move in our jurisdiction areas without rest. Riding a bike all the time is not an easy task. But then a criminal incident is always sudden and fast. How can we know beforehand that an incident is going to occur at a particular location? However, there have been a few catches made by us,” said a member of the force posted at a city-based police station.

Residents, however, beg to differ. “I live in the Alamganj area and see them very rarely. I really don’t know what the problem is. These people have bikes and they should be patrolling the areas. I have noticed some police personnel sitting on their bikes and chatting in the Frazer Road area,” said Aftab Hussain, a teacher.