Update: British Transport Police Bike Theft Policy

Photo: Bike storage outside of Stirling train station 

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Following significant pressure from MPs and cycling groups across the country – such as the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking, and Cycling UK – the British Transport Police (BTP) has reversed its decision not to investigate bicycle thefts left unattended for more than two hours and valued under £200. 

This decision is a win for cyclists and sustainable transport users. 

As we highlighted in a previous blog, the now-abandoned policy would have meant that the vast majority of bike-and-rail commuters (who routinely leave their bikes for a full working day) would effectively have been excluded from any meaningful investigation if their bike was stolen. For many, that felt like decriminalisation by default. 

The reversal shows what coordinated advocacy can achieve. When parliamentarians, campaign groups, and everyday commuters speak with one voice, policy can change. 

However, serious questions remain about the rationale that was used to justify the original decision. BTP cited limited resources and the time required to review hours of CCTV footage. But in 2026, the idea that footage must be painstakingly watched in real time simply does not stand up to scrutiny. Modern video analysis tools allow large volumes of CCTV to be scanned and searched in seconds. Technology exists to flag movement, identify individuals, and narrow time windows without officers sitting through hours of recordings. 

The issue was never about whether it is technically possible to investigate these crimes. It was about whether bike theft was being treated as a priority. 

This episode has reinforced something important: bike theft is not a minor inconvenience. For commuters, students, and workers, it is a direct attack on mobility, affordability, and independence. It undermines confidence in sustainable transport and makes the rail network less accessible. 

As an organisation promoting sustainable transport, we welcome BTP’s decision to reconsider. But going forward, we need more than reactive reversals. We need a clear commitment that cyclists using train stations will have their property protected and that modern tools will be used to enforce the law effectively. 

If we want to encourage more people out of cars, and onto bikes and trains, we have to start taking bike theft seriously. Sustainable transport only works when it’s safe to use it. 

Written by Ryan