Bike thefts in Cambridgeshire for 2022/23 plummeted by 20 per cent as police officers with a "genuine passion" for cycling have boosted the efforts to clamp down on offenders.

New data from the Home Office highlighted that the number of bike thefts or unauthorised taking of a pedal cycle reported to police dropped from 2,859 in 2021/22 to 2,301 in 2022/23.

The total of 2,301 in 2022/23 is the lowest number reported since 2012/13 when data was first compiled.

Inspector Ed McNeill, the tactical lead, admitted that cycle thefts, especially in Cambridge, had been notoriously bad in the past, but efforts on enforcement, education and engagement, have brought it down.

"There's been a plateau this year, so in 2018/19, Cambridge City was the worst place in the country for cycle crime, and that's not a stat we're particularly happy about," he said.

"The work we've done has brought that down, and in 2022, that was down to just under 1,100 offences, a significant fall."

Low charge rate

Despite the increased efforts, a vast majority of bike thefts across the UK are going unpunished, with just one in 53 reported bike thefts in Cambridgeshire resulting in a charge last year.

The Home Office's data showed that of the 2,301 bike thefts reported to Cambridgeshire Constabulary in the year to March 2023, just 43 (1.9 per cent) resulted in a charge or summons to court.

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PC Rob Tindall, the operational lead for cycle crime at Cambridgeshire Constabulary, explained: "Sometimes it is down to lack of information, in terms of it may not be caught on camera, it may not have identified suspect.

"But I would say the suspects we are identifying, we are dealing with."

Inspector McNeill added: "We're now specifically targeting prolific offenders, people we think are causing the greatest harm.

"We might only get a charge or a couple of charges against people, but actually, these people do much more than that."

Both explained that policing alone isn't going to stop cycle crime, but by pulling together with the public and other organisations to educate and instil preventative measures, a long-lasting impact can be made.

What's changed?

Police have made improved efforts to tackle bike thefts by forming a cycle crime unit that has implemented fresh impetus and ideas.

The unit has secured funding to install more CCTV cameras, which have already led to two arrests in the last two months, and started holding more events to educate the public, installing better storage and infrastructure, and issuing criminal behaviour orders.

A key help has also been that those behind tackling cycle crime have a genuine understanding and passion for preventing it.

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PC Tindall is an avid cyclist and joined the unit in November 2022, with Inspector McNeill crediting him for his commitment and increasing the number of arrests.

"I feel very passionately about what a bike means to a person," said PC Tindall

"For me, a bike is not just a bike; it has a genuine value. What it means to that person helps me get into this."

As a result, PC Tindall said that other forces have taken note of the work being done in Cambridgeshire and have asked for advice and are adopting the methods used in the county.

Bike marking events

As part of the education and prevention of bike thefts, the police are holding monthly bike marking events, which are to be rolled out soon in Ely, Huntingdon and Peterborough 

At Addenbrooke's Hospital on August 10, 150 bikes were marked, raising the total across the county to more than 850.

PC Tindall explained that marking bikes through a bike register helps deter thieves as they know the bike can be traced back to the owner if they see the hard-wearing sticker.

Because manufacturers don't provide a frame number, the bike marking events provide each bike with a unique reference number that allows quick identification.

CamCycle also plays a part in these events, offering advice on maintaining your bike.

The importance of having the best quality locks available and what to do if their bike is stolen is also stressed.

An integral part of bike marking is that it also enables a stolen bike to be recovered quickly and returned to the owner.

PC Tindall said: "I know it's a genuine loss to them, just as much as I know, and I recognise that when we recover a bike and reunite that person with a bike, how much genuinely that makes them feel happy."