Policy to not investigate bike theft after a bicycle has been left outside a train station for over two hours ditched by police
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
British Transport Police (BTP) have abandoned a controversial policy that meant officers would not investigate bicycle thefts if a bike had been left outside a railway station for more than two hours, confirming a U-turn after public backlash.
The force said the change demonstrates it is “committed to bringing more bike thieves to justice in 2026 than ever before”.
The previous Crime Screening Policy also ruled out investigating stolen bikes worth less than £200, prompting accusations the force was effectively decriminalising cycle theft, with the row intensifying in October when campaigners, cycling groups and passengers criticised the approach as discouraging people from travelling by bike.
BTP initially defended the rules, stating officers were advised to review only around two hours of CCTV footage because longer searches were not proportionate and reduced capacity to respond to serious incidents.
Assistant Chief Constable Ian Drummond-Smith said passengers “rightly expect a thorough police investigation to trace offenders and reunite them with their property,” adding that officers will now investigate more reports where a bike is identifiable on CCTV or where witnesses exist.
The force said it will also work with the railway industry to identify theft hotspots and improve camera coverage to support prosecutions.
The change took effect on 5 January across England, Scotland and Wales following Freedom of Information requests showing only 0.5 per cent of more than 4,000 station bike thefts led to a suspect being charged.
Police say at least one suspect has already been charged since reviewing the policy.
The reversal follows the implementation of the earlier screening policy that drew sustained criticism from cycling organisations and industry bodies, including warnings it would deter people from cycling to stations.
British Cycling said the original approach would discourage cycling, while Cycling UK said it left victims feeling they had to deal with theft themselves.
BTP confirmed the revised policy now contains no reference to how long a bike was left unattended or its value, and cases will be screened in if there is a witness, identifiable CCTV footage, or the bike was stored on a train cycle rack.