Police crackdown on moped crime appears to be working
Bike theft falls dramatically after introduction of tough tactics
‘We now use a range of new tactics’ COMMANDER JULIAN BENNETT
Scooter-related crime in London is finally on the wane following a raft of new measures introduced by the Metropolitan Police, latest figures reveal.
The rise in robbery and theft by scooter-mounted individuals and gangs had been one of the most shocking capital crime stories of recent times. Although ‘only’ 5000 such scooter-related crimes were reported between July 2015 and June 2016, this had risen three-fold to more than 16,000 incidents in the year to June last year. But now, following the implementation of new police measures, the first reductions are being seen.
According to the latest statistics, scooter, motorcycle and moped thefts in the capital peaked in April last year with 1512 incidents while April this year saw just 794: a 47.5% drop. Over the same period, the number of crimes committed using scooters also dropped from 1945 to 1202: a reduction of 38.2%. Commander Julian Bennett, who has been leading the Metropolitan Police Service’s bike theft clampdown, told MCN these reductions coincided with the introduction of new police measures.
“In October last year we introduced a range of new tactics including using slim-line F800GS motorcycles so that officers could get down the narrowest of streets. We also used ProSpike: a bed of hollow spikes, like a stinger. This is activated remotely and is effective against motorbikes. And a special DNA spray has also been used widely.”
The spray uses a uniquely coded water-like substance containing fluorescent dye, which glows blue under a UV torch and stays on clothes indefinitely and on skin for six to eight weeks.
“Since then figures currently show decreases of offences in scooter -enabled crime,” Bennett said. And that’s not the whole story. “We want to prevent the theft of scooters, mopeds, motorbikes and bicycles in the first place so they can’t be used in crimes,” he added. The Met has been working with the public, industry and councils to reduce scooter theft further.
“In March we launched our latest Be Safe campaign with the message of ‘Lock, Chain And Cover’ your scooter to make it less visible to thieves. We will continue to carry out operations throughout London to tackle offences.”
O McGuinness: ‘We need to chop their finger’s off!’ See p25.