Cycle & Acquisitive Crime Conference 2025: Stronger Through Partnership

We were delighted to host the Cycle & Acquisitive Crime Conference again on 8th - 9th July 2025. Held at the Crowne Plaza in Liverpool, the two-day event brought together more than 250 delegates representing 31 police forces from across the UK - making it our biggest year yet.

Chaired by Ian Dyson CBE QPM DL, former Commissioner of the City of London Police, and opened by Assistant Chief Constable Alex Goss (Merseyside Police), the conference brought together operational leads, national experts, industry voices, and community-focused organisations to address the evolving threats of cycle and acquisitive crime.

A new addition for 2025 was the introduction of panel sessions, which gave attendees the opportunity to explore complex issues in greater depth, asking questions and troubleshooting common problems. These included the rise of e-bike-enabled crime and challenges around tool theft.

Day 1: Tackling Cycle Crime in a Changing Landscape

The first day focused squarely on cycle crime, where attendees heard from forces across the country working to disrupt bike theft, antisocial cycling behaviour, and the use of e-bikes in committing crimes in cities and public spaces. From prevention to enforcement, the message was clear: cycle crime doesn’t exist in a vacuum - it affects community confidence, active travel, and wider urban safety.

The day opened with a powerful presentation from Sgt Pippa Wilcox of Merseyside Police, who shared how her team has embedded BikeRegister into daily operations through innovative strategies such as routine stop checks and by ensuring every officer uses the BikeRegister app. Her work has led to a significant reduction in both cycle theft and personal robbery, and drew praise for its mix of proactive enforcement, community engagement, and data-led policing.

Among the highlights was a presentation from Sgt Stuart Ford (City of London Police), who shared how his team uses cycle patrols and enforcement to reduce theft, manage congestion, and connect with the public. His operational insights underscored the effectiveness of targeted patrols and officer training adapted to today’s urban environments.

But one of the most powerful moments came from XO Bikes, a social enterprise that works with ex-offenders to refurbish unclaimed and abandoned bikes. Their mission, “to take bikes with a past and blokes with a past - and give them both a future,” resonated deeply with delegates.

Stef Jones, Founder of XO Bikes commented: “A fascinating few days amongst the men and women trying to combat the increasingly sophisticated wave of bike-associated crime in the UK. The encouragement and support for our approach is much appreciated - as are the donations of unclaimed and abandoned bikes from the various police forces attending #CycleCrime25. They are our oxygen, allowing XO Bikes to do what it does.”

XO Bikes offered a compelling reminder that crime prevention is not just about stopping theft - it’s also about supporting people and breaking the cycle to change lives.

Day 2: Wider Acquisitive Crime and National Threats

The second day shifted focus to acquisitive crime more broadly, exploring issues like retail theft, rural and vehicle crime, critical infrastructure, and the need for better deterrence strategies across sectors.

Yasmine McNamara of Tesco presented a frontline case study on how the retailer is using intelligent security systems and strategic planning to respond to organised retail theft. Her session emphasised how real-time data and strong police partnerships can turn prevention into performance.

In a deeply personal and powerful keynote, Figen Murray OBE spoke about her journey following the Manchester Arena attack and her campaign for Martyn’s Law, calling for stronger protective measures in public spaces. Her message reminded everyone of the real-world stakes of inadequate security.

Mark Kameen, Project Lead for the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership, shared cross-sector approaches for tackling serious and organised crime. He highlighted how better coordination between policing, government, and industry is essential to disrupting well-organised criminal networks - especially those targeting vehicles and tools.

Tool theft was a dominant theme throughout the day. A new panel session brought together voices from police, CNI, and the trades community to explore why this issue continues to grow - and what can be done to stop it. Discussions highlighted:

• The importance of raising public awareness, particularly around second-hand tool markets such as car boot sales
• The need for tougher sentencing to reflect the seriousness and impact of tool theft
• The growing use of forensic marking and digital tracking to protect high-value assets

Key Takeaways: We Can't Do It Alone

Throughout both days, a consistent message emerged: partnership is essential. Whether responding to bike theft, tool crime, or retail losses, the solutions lie not in isolated actions but in shared intelligence, joined-up enforcement, and community engagement.

Technology and innovation were seen as powerful tools - but only when combined with people-centred approaches like those championed by XO Bikes, campus security teams, and local police initiatives.

The 2025 conference showed the power of connection - between police forces, the private sector, and communities. From inspiring case studies to practical enforcement strategies, it gave attendees real tools, insights, and renewed purpose:

“As a new DOCO, it was great to hear from senior officers who have a lot of experience in the areas I'm tackling. Lots for me to take back to force!”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the conference - all of the content was really relevant to my current role and gave me the opportunity to network and share best practice with other forces.”

Thank you to all who attended and contributed. We look forward to returning for more conversations and an even bigger event in 2026!