Police to guard city cycles

7:15pm Monday 19th February 2007

CYCLISTS in York will be able to leave their bikes under police guard for a day.

A secure compound will be put up in Parliament Street as part of the York Safe Cycle Day on Wednesday.

The initiative is being run by North Yorkshire Police, City of York Council, Safer York Partnership and Community Watch in a bid to crack down on cycle crime - which is a massive problem in the city.

Sergeant Rick Ball, of York police, said: "People will be able to bring their bikes along and they will be looked after by Police Community Support Officers for the day.

"We are offering a secure cycle park and the mobile police office will be set up, offering free cycle tagging for bikes.

"Staff from Halfords will also be offering people free cycle safety checks.

"We are going to be surveying the people who come to us to find out their views about whether they would like to have a secure cycle park in the city centre and whether or not they would use it." Anyone who completes the survey will be entered into a free prize draw to win a mountain bike - worth £200 - courtesy of Halfords.

The secure compound will be open from 8.30am until 6pm and will be surrounded by fencing, which has been provided by the council.

Police have been offering free bike tagging in the last 12 months and have so far issued 4,000 of the electronic devices to cyclists in the city.

Sgt Ball said: "Unfortunately cycle crime is still stubbornly high. But so far of 13 tagged bikes which have been stolen, we have recovered five.

"The message to cyclists is to get your bike tagged, because we are getting those back."

The Press told last year how York had the worst bike theft problem in the north of England - with more than four stolen every day.

Police warned cyclists to be on their guard after a total of 1,113 bikes were stolen in the city in only nine months.