Bicycles chained to Railings

[Minty UFB]

Hi

I have just seen two uniformed(not BIB) chaps remove a bicycle from the railings along side Liverpool St station. They cut the chain with bolt cutters.

Now I have not seen any signs to say parking bicycle there not allowed. However are they legally allowed to damage someones property in this manner or do they have to recompense you.

I ask because some of these bike locks can be quite expensive and as far as I could see the bike was not causing any obstruction

I look forward to your views

Minty

[tigger1]

I hope you've reported this - sounds like theft to me, intention to permanently deprive somebody of the lock at least, if not the entire bike.

[Minty UFB]

Its not my bike so before I went off making claims of theft etc I wanted to know the legalities.

[pdV6]

Sounds like a tealeaf to me. If I were to blatantly nick a bike from a station, I'd probably get myself down the fancy dress shop beforehand...

[madleee]

Paranoia alert


Frame tubes could have been packed with Semtex...

[Minty UFB]

pdV6 said:

Sounds like a tealeaf to me. If I were to blatantly nick a bike from a station, I'd probably get myself down the fancy dress shop beforehand...

There were two of them with an electric trolley causing a nice obstruction. A lot of effort to go to nick what looked like a fairly ordinary Bicycle

[7db]

I think the charge would be criminal damage rather than theft (which is what you'll get charged with if you cut a clamp off) - however, I cant help thinking that it won't be criminal damage if Police are removing the bike for some good reason.

[deva link]

Minty UFB said:

Its not my bike so before I went off making claims of theft etc I wanted to know the legalities.

Can't you say you were traumatised by seeing the chain cut? Should be worth a few bob.

[HiRich]

Minty UFB said:

I have just seen two uniformed(not BIB) chaps remove a bicycle from the railings along side Liverpool St station. They cut the chain with bolt cutters.

Just a guess, but perhaps the railings are private property, and the chaps are security/maintenance for the land owners (perhaps Network Rail or the franchise)? I'm pretty sure that, if the above is correct, they are perfectly entitled to remove them and are not obliged to post a sign - it's like someone parking in your driveway. Chuck in the security risk and bingo - someone's getting a surprise this evening.

[streaky]

HiRich said:

Minty UFB said:

I have just seen two uniformed(not BIB) chaps remove a bicycle from the railings along side Liverpool St station. They cut the chain with bolt cutters.

Just a guess, but perhaps the railings are private property, and the chaps are security/maintenance for the land owners (perhaps Network Rail or the franchise)? I'm pretty sure that, if the above is correct, they are perfectly entitled to remove them and are not obliged to post a sign - it's like someone parking in your driveway. Chuck in the security risk and bingo - someone's getting a surprise this evening.

Not allowed to cause damage - sign or no sign. What they 'should do' is saw through the railings to remove the bike (assuming they own the railings that is) . If they do not return the chain and lock along with the bike ... that's theft - Streaky

[tigger1]

streaky said:

HiRich said:

Minty UFB said:

I have just seen two uniformed(not BIB) chaps remove a bicycle from the railings along side Liverpool St station. They cut the chain with bolt cutters.

Just a guess, but perhaps the railings are private property, and the chaps are security/maintenance for the land owners (perhaps Network Rail or the franchise)? I'm pretty sure that, if the above is correct, they are perfectly entitled to remove them and are not obliged to post a sign - it's like someone parking in your driveway. Chuck in the security risk and bingo - someone's getting a surprise this evening.

Not allowed to cause damage - sign or no sign. What they 'should do' is saw through the railings to remove the bike (assuming they own the railings that is) . If they do not return the chain and lock along with the bike ... that's theft - Streaky

I agree, you can be guilty of theft if you damage somebody's property.

[chrispy porker]

to be theft there has to be a 'dishonest appropriation'. If we are going to get into the intricacies of the Theft Act I think I shall rapidly lose the will to live however.

[HiRich]

You're no doubt right. Although I suspect the aim is to stop the bicycle owners (who no doubt will be directed to the lost property department that closed two hours ago; please come back tomorrow at 11 o'clock, wait an hour for service, etc.)

[7db]

People here should be pleased - the cyclist probably has a beard, eats lentils and protests that cars shouldn't be allowed.

[streaky]

7db said:

People here should be pleased - the cyclist probably has a beard, eats lentils and protests that cars shouldn't be allowed.

And wears Lycrap leggings with a saggy bum! - Streaky

[jasandjules]

In answer to the OP. They are not entitled to damage someone elses property. What did they do with the bikes as well?

[Balmoral Green]

Perhaps it was their bike and had lost the key?

[vonhosen]

jasandjules said:

In answer to the OP. They are not entitled to damage someone elses property. What did they do with the bikes as well?

They are allowed to under the Criminal Damage Act where they have a lawful excuse.

[gently bentley]

HiRich said:

Minty UFB said:

I have just seen two uniformed(not BIB) chaps remove a bicycle from the railings along side Liverpool St station. They cut the chain with bolt cutters.

Just a guess, but perhaps the railings are private property, and the chaps are security/maintenance for the land owners (perhaps Network Rail or the franchise)? I'm pretty sure that, if the above is correct, they are perfectly entitled to remove them and are not obliged to post a sign - it's like someone parking in your driveway. Chuck in the security risk and bingo - someone's getting a surprise this evening.

I think this is a very likely suggestion for what has happened. There are lots of bye laws at stations that Railtrack enforce. Well maybe not Railtrack but whoever ownes the property. I have been quite amazed at the amount of jurisdiction BTP have and the amount of land owned by the rail coys. The bye laws are posted in the station (at least they should be)some of them seem quite bizzare. They are quite like park bye laws. Any BTP on that know about this kind of stuff?

[vonhosen]

Byelaw 14

Edited by vonhosen on Monday 13th November 20:40