A new police squad, the ILS, is hot on the heels of villains in the Belgian city of Antwerp.

Have blades, will travel

The Inline Skating Patrol is being deployed on the streets to give the police a more public profile but, for the citizens they are paid to protect, the skaters are more a source of amusement than ressurance.

However, once the novelty wears off, the authorities insist the community will feel the benefits.

Walter Dillen: blades make police more obvious

But you cannot just rustle up a top team from a force more used to sitting in patrol cars. The cops need training ... and lots of it, but the ILS is fast becoming a popular option for the ambitious Antwerp officer.

Walter Dillen, Deputy Commissioner of Antwerp police force, is optimistic about the bold step. "It opens up a whole new concept in community policing," he said.

Fast movers ... but where's the blue light?

"We have to make full contact with everybody and make them think there are a lot of police on the streets."

The creation of the ILS is partly about street credibility. In a country where nearly half a million rollerblades were sold last year, it is likely to be a popular move.

Fallen cop: still a source of amusement

But what is the word on the street about rollerblading policemen?

"Now when somebody steals something, a policeman will go directly after him. It's a really good idea," said one youngster trying out his turns and jumps.

"Keep practising, guys" - message from one young expert

But another maestro added a note of caution as he watched the policemen being put through their paces: "They need to practise more."

The move may be an imaginative approach to crime prevention, but if it comes to chasing a rollerblader with skills like those demonstrated by the kids of Antwerp, it will be a hard step for the cops to keep up.

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