Andy Burnham has called out British Transport Police (BTP) over its investigations into bike theft at train stations.

The BTP said last week that when there is CCTV footage of an incident, it will review up to two hours, explaining it is 'not proportionate' for officials watch longer clips as it keeps officers away from other duties such as responding to emergencies.

Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham has signed a joint letter with Stockport councillors Peter Crossen and Matt Wynne about the situation.

They said: "Together, we are deeply concerned by the recent announcement from the British Transport Police that they will no longer investigate bike thefts at stations where a bicycle has been left for more than two hours.

"This decision is deeply misguided and sends the wrong message to commuters, residents, and crucially to bike thieves across Greater Manchester."

The letter adds: "Effectively decriminalising bike theft risks discouraging people from cycling to local stations, pushing them back into cars rather than risking having their bikes stolen by criminals who feel emboldened by a lack of enforcement."

British Transport Police said when there is CCTV footage of an incident, they will review up to two hours, explaining it is 'not proportionate' for officials watch longer clips (Image - Nub News)

The BTP previously clarified its position, saying: "We know that most people who leave their bicycle at a station will do so for more than two hours.

"BTP records all cycle crime reported to the force and considers all viable lines of enquiry when an offence is reported. Bicycle thefts have not been de-criminalised as some headlines have suggested.

"When we do not have a clear time or location for the offence, or if there is a lack of CCTV, witnesses or other evidence, it can be very difficult to solve a crime.

"If it is available we will review around two hours of CCTV footage to try to identify the incident, but it is not proportionate to review longer periods as it keeps officers from being available to respond to emergencies, visibly patrolling railway stations and trains, investigating crimes with identified lines of enquiry or which cause the most harm to victims – such as violent or sexual offences."

Harry Gray, from active travel campaign group Walk Ride GM, said bike theft remains a major issue for commuters and residents across Greater Manchester.

He said: "This effectively decriminalises crime, the laws are only as good as the enforcement behind them. Bike thieves are going to hear that and think 'I'm going to steal a bike because no one is going to catch me.'

"Most people who use bikes to get about use it as their main form of transport, and if it's been stolen they can't get to work or get their kids to school, it's like losing your car."

(Image - Art_Photo_Fil / Unsplash)

He suggested police could use artificial intelligence to help them review footage in future, or narrow down searches of video footage to targeted segments rather than watching it all for hours.

Mr Gray added: "The police say they can only review footage for two hours, but I think there's an issue with what the police are doing. If they're reviewing CCTV footage for hours then it's a waste of time."

A BTP spokesperson said: "We are looking at how we can work with the rail industry to modernise the tools we have available to us when it comes to CCTV – whether that's improving the quality or our ability to access it more quickly and effectively.

"We're also working closely with train operating companies to support and advise them in helping to 'design out' this type of crime, working on prevention measures to target harden and make sure train stations are a hostile environment for potential bike thieves."

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