Comments on: UK Police Stop and Proof Campaign

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:02:39 +0000

I have bikes that I have owned and rebuilt on several occasions dating back up to 19 years. The proof of purchase has long gone, and was only a memo re tax at the shop where I worked.
Yes, a well-intentioned idea, but largely unworkable, and with its presumption of guilt, unconstitutional.

By: Chrissy J

Chrissy J — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:12:45 +0000

As a method of preventing and fighting crime, it smells like a dead horse. It smacks of desperate measures.

I live in the next police authority area (Greater Manchester) and, given the high numbers of cyclists here (and subsequent levels of theft) I expect this attitude to be taken up here.

Will it deter theft? No.
Will it help reunite bikes with their owners? Not so far.
Does it make the police look as though they’re trying? Yes.
Are we as cyclists reassured by this scheme? NO!

By: Profiling suspected bike thieves » Cyclelicious

Profiling suspected bike thieves » Cyclelicious — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:37:27 +0000

[...] Via Urban Velo Magazine. [...]

By: Joe Peralta

Joe Peralta — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:17:21 +0000

16 may be 17 – “returned to the rightful owner” only implies it was stolen. No doubt some riders’ll have to plod over with their paperwork to prove they’re innocent and get their bikes back.

God bless our Bill of Rights.

By: Paul lemagne

Paul lemagne — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:00:02 +0000

Two good things I have read here :

- So you have to prove yourself innocent ? (That is against the law)

- Not every bike has a serial number I own 3 bikes, 2 have a serial number (the cheapest one) ,the carbon frame race bicycle has no serial number ….

From the original source : Acceptable documentation regarding ownership is a receipt, a photograph of the rider on the bike seized, a house insurance document/bicycle insurance document

By: brad

brad — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:11:57 +0000

FWIW: Every bike does not have a serial number. I have a few here that do not.

By: Terry

Terry — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:37:35 +0000

Those other 16 may have been seized from their rightful owners.

By: Joe Peralta

Joe Peralta — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 11:25:30 +0000

This is why British governance was ejected from the US at gunpoint.

I see 1 of 17 seized bikes was “returned to its rightful owner”. No word on the other 16.

By: Raiyn

Raiyn — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 05:46:09 +0000

@ Kibbee

Every bike DOES have a serial number.

By: Kibbee

Kibbee — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:54:02 +0000

Somebody should ask the cops if they have papers for all their bikes. I’m guessing they don’t carry any papers with them. Which brings up a good point. What about riding a bike which isn’t yours but which isn’t stolen? Can I let a friend borrow my bike? What about a bike I legitimately bought at a garage sale? There is no proof of ownership. Until every bike has a VIN Number and license plate, stuff like this is impossible to verify.