As London’s Met Cycle Task Force prepare to celebrate their first year anniversary, they’ve issued a press release to highlight what has been achieved so far.
The unit consists of 30 officers, funded by Transport for London (TfL) and tasked with reducing bicycle crime (theft and damage) across the capital. So how did they get on in the first year?
Over 200 arrests were made, with 175 of those related to theft, and ’74 per cent of those resulting in a positive outcome’, which I guess could mean anything from a caution to prosecution.
The number of reported bicycle thefts has dropped 3%, compared to the 12 months before the launch of the task force. How much of this is attributable to the task force? It is very difficult to tell but the good thing is it’s a move in the right direction.
The press release also mentions that 8 bikes were returned to one owner after she spotted them for sale online. I have contacted them to find out the total number of bikes being reunited with their owners is.
Read the press release in full