The British Transport Police has taken issue with “inaccurate” media reports about its policy not to investigate bikes stolen from train stations if they were left for longer than two hours… in a statement confirming that it will not investigate bikes stolen from train stations if they were left for longer than two hours. 

In a lengthy statement issued earlier today the British Transport Police said there had been “significant media coverage regarding British Transport Police’s (BTP) crime screening policy” in the past week, however “some reporting has been inaccurate”.

Train station cycle rack signage 1.jpg
Train station cycle rack signage 1 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

To “try to clarify the situation” the force that polices Britain’s railways and stations issued a fact-checking document with “claims” from the media and public, followed by its response. At the top of the list was the claim: “BTP [British Transport Police] won’t investigate a bicycle theft if it has been left at a station for more than two hours”.

“We know that most people who leave their bicycle at a station will do so for more than two hours,” the clarification begins. “BTP records all cycle crime reported to the force and considers all viable lines of enquiry when an offence is reported. Bicycle thefts have not been de-criminalised as some headlines have suggested.”

> “Effectively decriminalising bike thefts”: Bikes stolen from train stations that were left for more than two hours will not be investigated, says British Transport Police

The response to “inaccurate” media reports continues: “When we do not have a clear time or location for the offence, or if there is a lack of CCTV, witnesses or other evidence, it can be very difficult to solve a crime. If it is available we will review around two hours of CCTV footage to try to identify the incident, but it is not proportionate to review longer periods as it keeps officers from being available to respond to emergencies, visibly patrolling railway stations and trains, investigating crimes with identified lines of enquiry or which cause the most harm to victims – such as violent or sexual offences.

“We are looking at other ways we could manage this task, and we work closely with train operating companies to identify suspects and are actively improving CCTV coverage and advising on prevention measures as part of our crime prevention strategy.”

The force then concludes the comment by trying to reassure victims of bike theft that “even if an offence is not investigated, it still provides valuable intelligence”.

“This helps us to direct patrols and operations more effectively, ensuring we remain proactive in preventing crime and protecting passengers and staff,” it continues.

While the British Transport Police has taken issue with the idea it has ‘decriminalised’ bike theft from stations, British Cycling and other cycling campaign groups have been clear in their belief that is what the policy effectively amounts to.

Bishop's Stortford station cycle compound
Bishop's Stortford station cycle compound (Image Credit: Greater Anglia)

British Cycling accused the British Transport Police of “letting cyclists down” and “providing further barriers to people riding a bike”.

“Bikes are a vital mode of transport, and way to access work, education or vital services,” a spokesperson told us. “The theft of a bike is a horrible experience shared by too many people across the country, and decriminalising this activity will only serve to deter more people from choosing cycling, whilst preventing those already riding a bike from continuing to do so.”

Likewise, Sophie Gordon from Cycling UK, told us the decision tells people that they should expect to sort bike thefts themselves.

> Warning that bike theft has been “decriminalised” as stats show 89% of reported cases unsolved

“The decision not to investigate bike theft when cycles have been left for longer than two hours will hit the lowest income groups the hardest,” she said. “These are often working people who might not be able to afford a car and are relying on bikes and public transport to get to work. If you’re on shift or at work, you will inevitably be away longer than a couple of hours.

“Bike theft is not a petty crime but has serious social consequences and the police need to take it seriously – to have your means of getting around stolen can be devastating. By partnering with cycle trade, planners and other groups, the police could find ways to prevent cycle theft, seeing as that’s more effective than enforcement, but it’s not acceptable for the police to say they will be doing less to investigate theft, when they should be doing more. Otherwise it starts to feel like people should ‘See it. Say it. Sort it yourself’.”

The policy not to investigate bikes stolen if they have been left for longer than two hours has been in place since last year, but attracted widespread media attention last week in relation to a story about an attempted bicycle theft at Watford Junction railway station (with the following guidance below shared).

British Transport Police theft guidance
British Transport Police theft guidance (Image Credit: BBC/British Transport Police)

The British Transport Police has claimed some media reporting, notably claims about ‘decriminalisation’ of bike theft, were “inaccurate”, resulting in today’s statement.

Broken lock 3
Broken lock 3 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Speaking on BBC Breakfast yesterday morning, Cycling UK’s Dollimore said the policy sends an “odd message” to would-be bike thefts, effectively giving them carte blanche to steal whatever they like.

“Drivers would assume that if their car was stolen, that would be a serious matter that someone would at least investigate. And it’s the same with people who cycle, they expect that it should be looked at and considered,” Dollimore said.

“The British Transport Police saying they’re not even going to look at the evidence is alarming. We’re getting more and more people who are saying that their motivation for cycling is to save money, and so we should be encouraging people to cycle to the train station for the health benefits, cost benefits, and to make it easier for other people who drive to the station.

Chichester train station bike theft parody sign
Chichester train station bike theft parody sign (Image Credit: Chichester Anti-Recreation Partnership)

> Police force admits bike thefts “unlikely to ever be solved” after spoof sign pokes fun at station’s “Bicycle Redistribution Point”

“And it’s alarming that the British Transport Police are sending a very odd message to criminals and would-be criminals, don’t worry, there’s going to be no enforcement at train stations if you’re stealing bikes. Incredibly, the government is about to publish a new integrated transport strategy which reinforces how we integrate cycling and public transport together.

“Cycle parking at stations is massively important for that, and it’s quite gobsmacking really that they’re saying if you leave your bike at the station for more than two hours, we’re not going to look at the CCTV. I struggle to think of anyone who would leave a bike at a station for less than two hours.”

Dollimore added that he was “amazed” when he read that the police justified their decision on the grounds that it was “realistic”, the BTP claiming that officers were being prevented from effectively patrolling stations due to the time spent reviewing CCTV footage concerning bike thefts that were unlikely to be solved.

“They seem to suggest that they had people spending hours looking at CCTV cameras,” he said. “If you drop your bike off at 8am and it’s not there at six in the evening, someone could look at the CCTV cameras at 12, if it’s not there, they can look at 10. They can nail down the time window when the bike went within ten minutes.

“It doesn’t have to be a fully qualified police officer who does that, it can be admin staff. So I really struggle to understand the logic that it’s a time-consuming exercise when there is evidence. The evidence is there, they’re just refusing to use it.”