Help needed - bike impounded by police

My girlfriend left her bike locked up on the southbank yesterday and when she came back someone had locked their bike to hers through the frame. She waited there for 4 hours in case the person came back— but, not wanting to leave her bike there over night and risk it being stolen she found a Police officer.

He told her to go all the way to Kennington police station, which she did —*when she got there they told her that she should bring both bikes to the police station (and when asked HOW, they offered no help and told her that was her problem).

When she eventually managed to get her bike there (still with the other bike attached), after much faffing about the police produced a series of feeble bolt cutters — none of which were able to actually cut the D lock off.

They told her to come back today, which she did and after keeping her waiting for hours they told her they didn't know how they were going to separate the two bikes, nor how long the process could take.

The situation now is that she is not allowed to take her bike away to find someone else to cut the lock because that is apparently 'theft' (even though her bike is already registered on their useless anti-theft database) and it will now sit in their yard with all the other 'stolen' bikes until they get off their arses and sort it out. Which they invariably won't.

Does anyone have any advice on the legality of the situation and what we could do to sort it out?

We're going on holiday on Saturday and really want to sort it before we leave —*mainly because it wouldn't surprise me if (given the level of competence they've shown so far) the police just let it go to auction.

Thanks in advance.

Can I just say: For fucks sake!

Phone calls, going back, asking to speak to the sergeant, all of these things usually work. Turn up with big enough bolt cutters and offer to do it for them, there and then?

Big bad angry letter, if not? Recorded delivery, mentioning a lawsuit, the county court, etc etc?

FFS doesn't quite seem enough!!

blimey! you couldn't make it up. Sorry I don't know what the best thing to do is. With the benefit of hindsight I suppose it would have been better to take both bikes home and cut the lock off there.

Technically, one might be able to argue that the Police have... in effect... stolen her bike!
Now there's a thought... ;-)

Fucking sucks, sorry i can't help.

blimey! you couldn't make it up. Sorry I don't know what the best thing to do is. With the benefit of hindsight I suppose it would have been better to take both bikes home and cut the lock off there.

I know, thats what makes me so angry about the whole thing - there's no reward for honesty with the fucking police.. unless you count dealing with a bunch of retards and paperwork as reward

Speak to the cycle task force. As they have an interest in cycling/bikes they will be more willing to help.

It's not theft, she has shown that there is no intent to PERMANENTLY deprive the owner of the bike. Which they would need to prove for it to constitute the act of theft. Go back and demand your bike back as they have no legal powers to hold onto it... IMHO

Wow! Awesome nonsense.

Get some lawyerly type to go with you / write a 'heretoforth under the aforementioned' letter to tell them to give your fucking bike back.

Said it a million times and I'll say it again. Coppers - good for fuck all

it all makes sense to me, they are sticking to the letter of the law. without it our entire society would plunge into anarchy and chaos.. and ultimately the death of society

Too difficult for them to see common sense and show a bit of gumption I suppose

i had the same situation on monday, the lock was a shitty lock and i cut it, left a note saying where the other bike was. the owner was really annoyed when she went to the place to get the bike, even though the people there were trying to make her understand that it was all her fault. She asked for my telephone number but she has not called until today. maybe someone made her understand that the stupid person was her. I wasted a lot of time trying to sort the shit out, was realy stressed and all that, having to get cisco from nursery late. shit!!! after all this it looked that I was the in the wrong. I wouldn't have waited 4 hours in a millions years as i have things to do. It occurred to me to try and phone the police, luckily enough my south american instinct spoke higher.

Ridiculous.

Go see Kennington Police tomorrow morning, ask to speak to the Duty Inspector. Patiently explain the situation (he's a busy man and probably got several stabbings, shootings and a whole host of other issues on his plate to deal with), so give him a break.

Ask him what HE is able to do about the problem there and then (suggest calling the Fire Brigade round if they ain't got big enough bolt cutters at the Station).

Make a careful note of his name, number, and response.... (if he ain't going to do anything), and agree with him why that is.

Write it down.

Then explain (if necessary) how his response is disappointing, and what would he do in your shoes..... clearly you would seem to be left with no other option than to....

1) Firstly ring the Evening Standard news desk and explain the situation
2) Secondly ring the phone in's on BBC Radio London, and explain the situation to all of London, asking Londoners for advice.
3) when you've finished with the BBC, you might try LBC....

er... I'm sure you'll not need to get as far as 3). And he'll be happy to help.

Let us know how you get on.

what bike is it? the other one
I'm sure someone on the forum will have somthing similar and proof of purchase of sorts and you could get a copy to take with you to claim it's a friends bike who recognised your bike and locked them together (you owe her/him money or something....). She/He subsequently lost her bag with phone and keys so couldn't reach you. I don't know, be creative.

Probably one of the worst ideas I have heard.

That is fucking ridiculous.

There was some cop on here recently, I'd PM him directly and ask him for help.

Hang on, I'll find his username...

edit: having problems... cant locate my posts.
maybe someone else knows who i'm talking about?

aren't the police just great! when there is a red light being jumped or a person smoking some herbal remedies they are there like a fucking homing missile to sort you right the fuck out, but when you atually need them to do something they are a pile of useless motherfuckers! to date i have had probably 5 interactions with the police where the outcome has been positive. the rest they just waste mine and every one elses time.

hope this gets sorted dan and doesn't end up taking 6+ monthes like my on going police interaction has

Need a dlock bust?

Pm me a number and I can do it in the morning.

Need a dlock bust?

Pm me a number and I can do it in the morning.

Are you a thief?

Are you a thief?

No, but my dad was. As proof he stole the stars from the sky and put them in my eyes!

Or yes I'm at brick lane most mornings early, you want anything in particular? Got a nice BMX to you £50.

I'd keep in contact with them, here in Brum the police auctioned off someones bike after they held onto to it for a week or so, even though the owner had been in an accident and had died. When the relatives went to get it back from them it was gone....don't worry, they apologised though.

Just found out this morning that the guy came to get his bike from Kennington Police station today - forgot to mention in the OP that my lady had left a note telling the guy where it was.

Who locks their bike to another and then doesn't come back to unlock it for 48 hours?! Oh well - at least it's sorted now, but no thanks to the police.

Thanks to all for your support and suggestions

Waay!

Glad it's sorted-what a pisstake. I hope the guy at least apologised for being such a bike-hostage-taking-massive-cock-end.

If I wrote this into a sit-com. It would seem far-fetched...

You just can't make this shit up...

Truth stranger than fiction... glad you got the bike back.

Who locks their bike to another and then doesn't come back to unlock it for 48 hours?!

someone pretty absent minded and careless.

or someone planning to to steal the other bike.