Police stop cyclists in crackdown in the city

Police launched a crackdown on cyclists and shoplifters in Commercial Road, stopping 25 cyclists in a week.

Sgt Richard Holland, of Charles Dickens neighbourhood team, said one of the riders had ignored police and kept on riding – but was stopped by waiting officers.

He said: ‘Of those 25, 24 heeded the warnings and then one continued to cycle.

‘Thinking someone might do it we had another police officer 100 yards down.

‘It’s quite dangerous. We’ve had lots of complaints, it’s unnecessary.’

Around four of five shoplifters were stopped in the week of action, which took place from June 20.

‘Most of those were deterred,’ Sgt Holland said.

He added: ‘It was part of a week of action in the city centre.’

Shops and businesses were given advice about child sexual exploitation and how to watch out for signs of abuse.