Charges for bike thefts on Britain’s railways have more than doubled year-on-year following a controversial British Transport Police (BTP) policy change that was reversed after criticism from cyclists and cycling organisations.
New Freedom of Information data analysed by Cycleplan shows that the proportion of concluded railway bike theft cases resulting in a charge or summons rose from 4.4% in the first half of 2025 to around 9% during the same period in 2026.
The improvement came as reported railway bike thefts fell by 11%, from 2,135 incidents between January and June 2025 to 1,900 in the first six months of 2026.
York, UK. March 6, 2022. Railway station platform with a bicycle in the foreground. Two trains are behind and an ornate curved 19th Century canopy is overhead.
The figures follow BTP’s update to its Crime Screening Policy on January 5, 2026, which meant certain bike thefts would not be investigated if the bike had been left at a station for more than two hours or was valued at less than £200.
After criticism that the change risked effectively decriminalising lower-value bike theft, BTP reversed the policy on January 28, just over three weeks after it was introduced.
The data also highlighted a rise in the use of CCTV, which assisted in 10.3% of reported thefts in 2026, compared with 6.7% in 2025.
Cambridge North was named Britain’s biggest railway bike theft hotspot, with 35 reported thefts between January and June 2026, up from 27 the previous year.
However, some stations recorded sharp increases despite the national decline. Clapham Junction rose from seven to 27 thefts year-on-year, while Hitchin increased from five to 27.
| Station | Thefts (Jan–Jun 2026) | Thefts (Jan–Jun 2025) | YoY change | |
| 1 | Cambridge North | 35 | 27 | +8 |
| 2= | Clapham Junction | 27 | 7 | +20 |
| 2= | Hitchin | 27 | 5 | +22 |
| 4 | St Albans City | 24 | 36 | -12 |
| 5= | Reading | 23 | 26 | -3 |
| 5= | Oxford | 23 | 32 | -9 |
| 7 | Bank Top (Darlington) | 21 | 0 | +21 |
| 8 | Bedford | 20 | 16 | +4 |
| 9= | Richmond | 19 | 8 | +11 |
| 9= | Stirling | 19 | 1 | +18 |
Sean Carney, chief underwriting officer at Cycleplan, said: “It’s encouraging to see railway bike theft fall by 11% year-on-year, but 1,900 reported thefts in just six months shows that cyclists still face a significant risk when leaving their bikes at stations.
“What really stands out is how much the picture varies across the country. While thefts have fallen overall, some stations, including Clapham Junction and Hitchin, have seen substantial increases. This shows why cyclists shouldn’t become complacent just because the national trend is moving in the right direction.
“There are also some positive signs when it comes to tackling theft. The data shows increased use of CCTV, while a higher proportion of concluded cases resulted in a charge or summons compared with last year.
“However, prevention remains one of the best ways for cyclists to protect their bikes. We’d encourage anyone leaving a bike at a station to use good-quality locks, secure the frame to a designated cycle stand and register their bike with a recognised cycle database.
“Train operators and station partners also have an important role to play in preventing and investigating cycle theft, including making effective use of CCTV and other available evidence.”
