News / Crime
Transport police to not investigate bicycle thefts if bikes left for more than two hours
The British Transport Police at Bristol Temple Meads are based next to the bicycle racks outside the entrance to the station.
But the police force now says it will no longer investigate bike thefts outside stations where the bicycle has been left for more than two hours.
A petition started by one cyclist who had his bike stolen said the rule “effectively gives thieves a green light to steal bikes from stations in broad daylight”.
Any bike worth less than £200 will not be investigated at all by the British Transport Police – photo: Martin Booth
A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “Whilst we know that bike thefts are upsetting, inconvenient and potentially costly, there can often be limited opportunity for investigation.
“Our experience tells us at an early stage that there are some crimes that are unlikely to ever be solved – such as those without a clear estimate of time or location for the incident or if there is a lack of CCTV or witnesses.
“The more time our officers spend reviewing CCTV footage for these offences, the less time they have available for patrolling railway stations and trains, investigating crimes which cause the most harm and providing a visible presence across the network.
“We will continue to apply a test of proportionality when determining investigation – looking at factors such as timeframes, witnesses, the availability of CCTV, the impact on the victim or whether there is a realistic prospect of a successful outcome.
“Any offence which is not investigated will still provide us with valuable intelligence, used to direct our patrols and operations.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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