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Cyclists: Footpaths

Volume 688: debated on Thursday 18 January 2007

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prosecutions there have been of cyclists riding on footpaths in the Metropolitan Police area in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available; and [HL1200]

How many fixed penalty notices have been issued to cyclists riding on footpaths in the London Metropolitan Police area; and how many of those have been paid. [HL1201]

The number of cyclists prosecuted at magistrates’ court, for offences relating to riding on pavements in the Metropolitan Police force area, 1996 to 2005 can be found in the attached table. Information on the number of fixed penalty notices issued to cyclists riding on footpaths is not held within RDS OCJR (research and development statistics, Office for Criminal Justice Reform). Data for 2006 will be available in the autumn of 2007. Information for Scotland is a matter for the Scotland Office and that for Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland Office.

The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates court for offences relating to pedal cycles—riding on footpath in the Metropolitan Police force area, 1996-05 1 2

Statute

Offence Description

Proceeded against (Year)

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Highway Act, 1835 Sec 72. Metropolitan Police Act 1839 Section 54(7) & Byelaws Offences under the Metropolitan Police Acts

Pedal cycles—riding on footpath

40

19

54

40

10

11

8

10

17

29

1 These data are on the principal offence basis.

2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete.

However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.