A police policy not to investigate thefts of bikes left at railway stations for longer than two hours has been reversed.
British Transport Police (BTP) said it is “committed to bringing more bike thieves to justice” after changing its approach.
In October it emerged that BTP was no longer investigating thefts of bikes at stations if they had been parked for more than two hours or were worth under £200.
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Cycling groups criticised the policy, which they said contradicted Government efforts to integrate public transport with cycling.
Analysis by campaign group Crush Crime found 4,193 railway station bike thefts were reported in 2024, but a suspect was charged in just 22 cases.
In a statement this week, BTP said it has updated the bike theft section of its crime screening policy to “enhance the force’s service to victims of this crime”.
BTP Assistant Chief Constable Ian Drummond-Smith said: “Rail passengers whose bikes are stolen rightly expect a thorough police investigation to trace offenders and reunite them with their property, and we are committed to bringing more bike thieves to justice in 2026 than ever before.
“To further improve our service to victims, and following an internal review, we have recently refreshed our crime screening policy.
“Under this updated policy, our officers will investigate more reports and explore all viable lines of inquiry if a bike is identifiable on CCTV, or if there is a witness to the crime.”
He added that the force has “already charged a man with cycle theft” since the changes came into effect on January 5.
Charity Cycling UK described the decision as “a real win for everyone who uses our transport network”.
Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at Cycling UK, said: “This outcome is a real win for everyone who uses our transport network.
“From the moment we found out about the policy, our members and supporters were clear that it sent the wrong message about whose journeys matter.
“When more people feel confident cycling to stations, it reduces congestion on our roads, eases pressure on parking and public transport, and supports a more efficient economy overall.
“We’re delighted that British Transport Police listened, engaged with us, recognised that supporting cycling supports the wider public good, and changed their policy.”
