Bike theft in the UK effectively 'decriminalised' after more than 365,000 cases go unsolved over the past five years, claims the Lib Dems claim.
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
Bike theft in the UK has effectively been 'decriminalised' as more than 365,000 cases went unsolved in the last five years, the Liberal Democrats have claimed.
Official Home Office data showed an average of 200 bicycle thefts a day took place in which no culprit was apprehended, the party said.
The 365,706 unsolved crimes since 2019 amounted to 89 per cent of all bike thefts over the period. Only two per cent of cases – 8,437 incidents - led to a suspect being charged.
The party's home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael MP said: 'These shocking figures will leave people wondering if bike theft has been decriminalised.
'Whether it's used for commuting, family days out or exercise, people's bikes are a hugely valued possession.
'So bike thefts leave victims feeling both out of pocket and distressed, and knowing the thief will probably get away with it just adds salt into the wound.'
He added: 'Years of neglect under this Conservative government have emboldened criminals and left frontline police officers without the resources they need to investigate crimes like bike theft properly.
'The government needs to restore community policing where police are visible in their neighbourhoods and can focus on solving local crimes.'
Police minister Chris Philp responded: 'The Liberal Democrats could never be trusted to cut crime or keep communities safe.
'They want to strip our police officers of vital powers and voted against tougher sentences for the worst offenders.
'The Conservatives have cut the number of theft offences by 47 per cent since 2010 including bicycle theft by 54 per cent, reduced violent crime by 52 per cent, and put a record number of police officers on our streets to keep our communities safe.”