New data has revealed that the vast majority of bicycle thefts resulted in no suspects being identified or charges brought.

Statistics from the House of Commons Library shows that in 2022, no suspect was identified across 2,155 cases of bike theft, representing 89 per cent of total incidents.

Just 47 bike thefts resulted in a charge or summons, less than 2 per cent of all cases.

The analysis was commissioned by the Liberal Democrat party, who accused the government of 'decriminalising' bike theft.

Gideon Amos, the parliamentary candidate for the new Taunton constituency said: "Gideon Amos, the party’s local Parliamentary candidate, said:

“Theft is such a personal and hurtful crime. To see so many go unsolved in Avon and Somerset is a tragic reflection of the failure to give our police the support they need.“These figures show the Government is effectively decriminalising bike theft in our local communities - and ministers in Westminster seem content to let it continue.

“We need to see a return to proper community policing here in Taunton and Wellington with the police having the resources to make that possible, both to make our streets safer and to end this free-for-all for criminals.”