FOI 348/25 Bike Seizures

Enquiry Reference: 348-25                                                                                                            

Could I request the following information: I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request.  Below is your request and our response.

How many bicycles (i.e. push bikes, including e-bikes) were seized by your police force in the years 2020-2024, broken down by year? 

How many seized bicycles were recovered by a third party recovery specialist (i.e. a contracted firm responsible for recovering vehicles seized by the police) - figures requested are for 2020-2024, broken down by year? 

• Please note that although every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete, however it is important to note that this data has been extracted from a   data source used by the Force for police purposes. The detail collected to respond specifically to your request is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any recording system.

We cannot provide an accurate number of recoveries of bicycles due to a change in reporting systems and many of these incidents being recorded as N/A alongside anything other a motor vehicle until roughly May 2023.

The analyst has included the data we have managed to collect  but care should be taken to understand our return when considering the interpretation or further use of the data.

What was the approximate financial value for the contract to recover bicycles in the years 2020-2024, broken down by year?

• No information held. These rarely attract any profit to the police due to their low value.

Having made enquiries within the Force above is all the information we hold.  Please note that all statistical data supplied in relation to Freedom of Information requests is a snapshot of data held at the time the request was received by the Freedom of Information office and is subject to constant change/updates.

The Cleveland Police response to your request is unique and it should be noted that Police Forces do not use generic systems or identical procedures to capture and record data therefore responses from Cleveland Police should not be used as a comparison with any other force response you receive.

If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request, you have the right to request an independent internal review of your case under our review procedure. The Freedom of Information Code of Practice (see below link) states that a request for internal review should be made within 20 working days of the date on this response or 40 working days if extenuating circumstances to account for the delay can be evidenced. Public authorities are not obliged to accept internal reviews after this date.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice

Yours sincerely

Information Rights Decision Maker