THE MP for Taunton and Wellington has said that bike theft has been “effectively decriminalised” after recent statistics published by the Home Office.

The figures stated that Avon and Somerset Police solved just over ten per cent of bike thefts last year.

MP Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrats) has called for a dedicated national unit, called Operation Bike Bait, in the National Crime Agency which would carry out ‘bike bait’ operations to tackle theft.

The unit would work with local police forces to carry out targeted operations, planting bikes fitted with trackers in theft hotspots so officers can catch offenders and uncover wider criminal networks.

It would also coordinate the collection and sharing of intelligence and best practice across forces, which intends to build a national picture of bike theft and improve the policing response.

Nationally, almost two thirds of police forces in England & Wales had at least four in five cases going unsolved.

Furthermore, none of the 44 police forces included in the statistics had solved more than 55 per cent of bike theft cases.

MP Gideon Amos said: “Most people in Taunton and Wellington hate the idea that any theft like this has effectively been decriminalised.

“Lots of people, particularly young people in their first job, rely on their bike to get to work and to really important meet ups, they are completely stuck when it's stolen and feel rightly angry that action frequently isn't taken and justice rarely gets done.

“Our police officers do a great job, but they need support and resources if they're going to start taking more action on bike theft.

"But with the increasing cost of living, people can't afford to replace stolen personal property and so 'Bike Bait' is an operation whose time is now".

Avon and Somerset Police have been approached for comment.