BID Funded Police Officer report: March 2022
As more employees and visitors return to the area, PCs Nick and Lee – our two funded police officers for London Bridge – have had a busy March keeping the area safe, including an operation at the station and a number of personal safety seminars.
You can read a short report of their work last month below and please do get in touch with them if you would like to raise any concerns.
Unfortunately the demand for – and consequently value of – second-hand bikes at present means that theft across London is high. Whilst leaving your bike locked in a public place will never be risk-free, we are keen to encourage cycling in the area and are therefore dedicating a large amount of our work to reducing cycle theft. This includes looking at options for secure cycle stores, organising specific police operations, gathering intelligence and CCTV footage, and running free BikeRegister sessions. As a cyclist, there are a few things you can also be doing to reduce the likelihood of falling victim to theft:
Attend one of our FREE BikeRegister marking sessions (usual cost £19.99). This acts a deterrent to thieves, and if the bike is stolen and later recovered by the police or an unwitting buyer, it can be returned to you and the thief prosecuted. Dates for forthcoming sessions are available here)
Invest in a good lock, ideally two. Soldsecure.com provides a security rating to a variety of locks and if you can afford it always buy those rated as ‘Gold’. D-locks and thick chains are typically the strongest and do not be tempted to use cable locks as these are easily cut.
Secure the bike to the stand by placing the lock through both the frame and the wheel – this is particularly important if you have quick-release wheels.
Consider replacing standard quick release skewers with lockable ones requiring a specialised key so that wheels cannot be removed by hand or standard tools.
Lock the bike ‘tight’ to a stand or immovable object so it’s hard to manoeuvre and ensure the lock isn’t resting on the ground.
When purchasing a second-hand bike, ask the seller for the frame number and check it against BikeRegister to see if it has been flagged as stolen. Also ask the seller for their original proof of purchase and request that they write you a receipt should you choose to buy. Be wary of sellers failing to provide this information as it may indicate the bike was stolen.
Reporting to the police: if you are witnessing a bike being stolen dial 999, however to report a theft after it has happened call 101 or report it online here. Make note of your bike’s frame number (typically on the underside of the joint where the seat tube and down tube meet) as it’s important to provide this to the police.