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A police force that spent over £34,000 on a fleet of electric tuk-tuks to patrol the streets has offloaded the vehicles for just £6,000 after only two years of service.
In 2022, Gwent Police disclosed via a Freedom of Information request that they had invested £39,744, roughly £9,936 per vehicle into a fleet of four electric auto-rickshaws
The purchase was financed through a £673,181 Home Office 'Safer Streets' grant, a package specifically designed to boost police visibility and address crime prevention in public spaces.
Commonly used as taxis across Asia and limited to a top speed of 34mph, the tuk-tuks were intended to provide a 'visible presence' in areas less accessible to standard cruisers.
At their launch, the force planned to deploy them for patrols in Public parks, pedestrian walkways and local community hotspots.
The tuk-tuk investment was part of a larger £638,881 initiative aimed at high-priority issues, including violence against women and girls, burglary, and anti-social behaviour.
Following their recent sale, the force stated that the £6,000 recovered has been reinvested into other Home Office-approved 'Safer Streets' projects.
At the time, the police were blasted online as 'an absolute embarrassment' when they unveiled the tuk-tuks.
A fleet of tuk-tuks to help patrol parks, walkways and public spaces bought for £34,300 in 2022 was sold for £5,950 two years later at a £28,350 loss
One car dealer said: 'Wow! Talk about getting a dodgy deal - never mind a tuk-tuk, they've been tucked up!'
The BBC report that a spokesperson for Gwent Police explained that the vehicles were originally purchased to enhance public safety, particularly within the night-time economies of Abergavenny and Newport, by uniquely engaging with the community.
While acknowledging that the final sale price was lower than expected, the spokesperson maintained that the amount recouped was beyond the force's control, suggesting that anyone who has tried to sell an unwanted vehicle would recognise the challenges involved.
In a report commissioned by the Newport Council in partnership with Gwent Police, the tuk-tuks were described as a 'novelty' which will be used to deliver 'high visibility reassurance patrols to make residents and visitors feel safer walking around the city'.
Twitter users were quick to mock Gwent Police for their decision to purchase the tuk-tuks
The force said: 'Four tuk-tuk vehicles, rolled out in Newport and Abergavenny as 'safe spaces' for those residing or visiting Gwent are now available to provide crime prevention advice, report incidents to and seek help from if you are feeling unsafe.
'Our tuk-tuks will be used both during the day and night, driven by our officers and 'ambassadors' such as those employed by Newport NOW as part of a Newport City Council initiative.
'The tuk-tuks will be used to patrol parks, walkways and other public spaces across Newport and Abergavenny.'
At the time, Chief Inspector Damian Sowrey said: 'They were on show at our Behind the Badge day, giving local residents the opportunity to see them up close and to hear more about how they will be used.
'The feedback was overwhelmingly positive with parents telling officers that they would feel safer knowing that there was support for young people out at night, and from women who could think of an occasion when the tuk-tuk would have been a welcome sight.'
Gwent Police have been contacted for further comment.
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