Nicky has this morning written to Richard Blakeway, the Mayor’s housing adviser, to explain why he has apparently double counted around 16,000 affordable homes.

Blakeway said this week that “around 54,000 completions” are expected over the “next four years” (2011-15), apparently including 16,000 affordable homes that will already have been counted towards the Mayor’s target of 50,000 homes by 2012.

Nicky wrote, "I am extremely concerned at the way the mayor’s office has apparently double counted this information. At best it is a lazy, yet very important, error. At worst you have blatantly misled Londoners on your housing delivery."

She went on to say that the misuse of statistics, "undermines the challenges we face, and this apparent sleight of hand does nothing to reassure Londoners we are delivering what the city needs."

Commenting today, Nicky Gavron said: "The mayor needs to be beating targets, not cheating them. He’s already broken his election pledge to deliver 50,000 homes by 2011. It now looks like he’s trying to claim credit twice for thousands of extra homes."

London’s public buildings are responsible for 10 per cent of the capital’s carbon emissions. Retrofitting these buildings with energy reduction measures will not only cut fuel bills and emissions, it is also a valuable investment opportunity estimated to be worth billions to the London economy, which will create jobs and help develop skills.

Flexible finance available from the fund will pay for measures including efficient lighting systems, ventilation and boiler upgrades, smart meters and solar panels. Returns on initial investments are made through resulting energy savings. The Mayor also revealed that a team of experts will be available to help speed public buildings through retrofitting programmes.

This is part of the Mayor’s overall plan to retrofit London’s buildings which are responsible for 80 per cent of carbon emissions. Retrofitting is a win-win for Londoners as it delivers value for money through the more efficient use of energy resulting in reduced energy costs and it significantly contributes to the Mayor’s ambitious carbon reduction targets.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: ‘Retrofitting London is a priority as not only will it cut carbon and energy costs, but also inject billions of pounds into the city’s economy, and create tens of thousands of jobs.

‘This multi-million pound fund will assist in improving the efficiency of the capital’s public buildings. It is a great example of the type of innovative thinking that will stimulate green economic growth for the capital while also saving taxpayers’ money on energy bills.’

The Mayor has agreed a £50 million contribution from the London Green Fund to set up this new fund, which will be known as the London Energy Efficiency Fund (LEEF). LEEF will be led by Amber Infrastructure Limited, a leading sponsor and manager of social and economic infrastructure projects. Amber has already expanded the fund’s value with upfront commitments for £50 million from RBS and the company is expected to leverage in further amounts over the life of the project. Amber will also work with Arup, that will act as a technical adviser. To further enhance the attractiveness of the LEEF, RBS are currently negotiating a facility with the European Investment Bank which will allow their commitment to be provided at a more beneficial rate.

It is anticipated that many of the projects to be funded will use the Mayor’s RE:FIT programme model, which has already saved one million pounds a year from the energy bills of 42 public buildings in the Greater London Authority group including fire stations, police stations and Transport for London offices. RE:FIT is pioneering and award-winning, and is being adopted across the UK as well as attracting interest from around the world. Buildings that have taken up scheme have seen their energy efficiency improved by as much as 40 per cent. The Mayor’s RE:FIT programme is about to significantly ramp up following the selection of Turner & Townsend, supported by PA Consulting Group as preferred bidder to run a RE:FIT programme delivery unit to support hundreds more organisations through the process including building and carbon assessment, securing funding, procurement and implementation. This team will be in place for three years, predominantly funded through the European Investment Bank managed ELENA (European Local Energy Assistance) facility totalling £2.67million.

The London Green Fund is a trailblazing initiative led by the Mayor of London and managed by the European Investment Bank, that combines European Regional Development Funds, public and private finance to invest in environmental infrastructure. Earlier this year the Mayor launched a £70million waste fund under the same scheme. Collectively these funds are set to issue hundreds of millions of pounds of investment for low carbon projects.

The London Green Fund is financed by contributions from the London Development Agency, the London Waste and Recycling Board and the Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas (JESSICA) initiative that was developed by the European Commission and European Investment Bank.

European Investment Bank Vice President, Simon Brooks, said: ‘We are delighted to have finalised negotiations with Amber as the second “sub-fund” manager for the London Green Fund’s energy efficiency component. In addition, we are also evaluating the possibility of providing EIB low cost funding to RBS which they can on-lend to the fund. Combining funding from the London Green Fund with private sector funding in this way will provide local authorities and other eligible borrowers with cheap funding to green their buildings and contribute to the UK and EU energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets.’

Leo Bedford, Programme Director for Amber, commented: ‘We’re delighted to be working alongside our consortium partners on a project that will be pivotal for London’s 2020 carbon emissions programme. Our unrivalled public sector partnerships and experience in managing a JESSICA fund provides us with a unique platform to ensure both the long-term energy efficiency goals and public saving objectives are met.’

Chris Fallis Head of Public Sector, Structured Finance for RBS, said: ‘RBS are delighted to be supporting Amber Infrastructure with the London Energy Efficiency Fund, which will allow public sector bodies within London to access financing for energy efficiency programmes, facilitating a reduction of the carbon footprint across the capital.

‘RBS has extensive public sector experience and coupled with Amber’s fund and project management experience and Arup’s technical expertise, provides a unique partnership to deliver this vital programme.’

Malcolm Ball, Director at Arup, commented: ‘Arup is proud to be a key advisor for the first energy efficiency fund in the UK. The London Energy Efficiency Fund is an exciting project and one which aligns with Arup’s vision to accelerate building retrofit and contribute to a low carbon economy.’

The London Green Fund forms one of the initiatives the Mayor has introduced to harness the opportunities coming from a low carbon economy – other projects to ‘retrofit London’ are cutting emissions from homes and transport. For example, the Mayor’s RE:NEW programme recently expanded to all boroughs and is set to offer 55,000 homes a carbon makeover by May 2012.

London is well placed to become a world leader in both low carbon financing and in the creation of new jobs, skills and enterprise to cash in on the need to become more energy efficient. An Ernst and Young report commissioned by the Mayor shows that if London can secure just one per cent of forecast global spend on low carbon goods and services, then it could deliver nearly £4 billion annually to our economy through to 2025.

Popular website Teen Today (http://www.teentoday.co.uk/) have signed up to this year’s campaign asking young Londoners to come up with a road safety distraction slogan. The teen who comes up with the best slogan will win a ‘distraction date’ along with two friends with Rizzle Kicks, who recently dominated the charts with a number one and a number eight single in the same week. The band are kindly donating their time to support the campaign for free.

Teenagers are a vulnerable road user group. Last year the number of teenagers killed or seriously injured on London roads fell 14 per cent to 258 compared to 301 in 2009. Since 2000 the figure has fallen by 62 per cent. Despite this steady improvement, the Mayor and TfL are committed to raising awareness of the dangers when using the roads.

Last year stars including Wretch 32, Tinie Tempah and Eliza Doolittle recorded video clips free of charge which they then uploaded onto their social media sites. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXBMf1-_yJ4&feature=relmfu

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: “Every single death on London’s roads is a tragedy, and teenagers are less experienced and more at risk than any other age group in the capital. So while the number of deaths and injuries is falling, we are determined to drive it down further, and get the message out to our youngsters to take extra care.”

Rizzle Kicks said: “We can relate to the message of getting distracted on the roads, that’s why we’ve decided to support the campaign. The teen road safety campaign is important to us and we’re happy to support it through this competition.”

Lilli Matson, Head of Delivery Planning, in Better Routes and Places at TfL said: “The on-going fall in casualties shows that TfL’s teen road safety campaign has really been making a difference, however we know that our work is far from done. It is easy to become distracted on the road, but it is vital that teenagers pay careful attention when using them. With the start of the new academic year, we look forward to continuing our campaign, this time by emphasising the importance of avoiding distractions on the road to the capital’s young people.”

The delegation – which included both of Islington’s Older People’s Champions and Cllr Janet Burges, Islington’s Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care – accompanied Council Leader Catherine West as she gave evidence on Fuel Poverty to Health and Public Services Committee of the London Assembly.

The delegation viewed the Committee’s Meeting and were particularly pleased when Cllr West urged the representatives of EDF Energy and British Gas who were present, to show a “social conscience” when setting their energy bills for the forthcoming year.

After the Committee Meeting the pensioners met with London Assembly Members Nicky Gavron and Murad Qureshi who sit on the Committee, as well as Jennette Arnold who represents Islington on the GLA.

All three Assembly Members signed the Pensioners Forum’s petition which calls on the London Mayor to do more to prevent Londoners from falling into fuel poverty.

Cllr Catherine West said:

“I am on the side of local people who are in danger of falling into fuel poverty.  I am delighted that the Pensioners Forum was able to send a delegation to City Hall to attend the Committee Meeting and show the energy companies first hand the impact their price rises have.

It’s also important that the Conservative Mayor of London does more to help tackle fuel poverty in Islington and throughout London with energy efficiency schemes and improvements on data sharing so we can identify those in fuel poverty. I hope he heeds the words of the Pensioners Forum’s petition.

Unfortunately his Conservative chums in the Government are making the situation worse by cutting the Warm Front scheme, which helps several vulnerable families in Islington manage their energy bills”.

George Durack, Chairman of Islington Pensioners Forum, recorded a message at City Hall, explaining what he decided to bring his campaign to the Mayor’s doorstep.

Following the publication of Boris Johnson’s bus, tube, tram and rail fare increases today Ken Livingstone said,

”London already has some of the highest fares in the world, but instead of putting squeezed Londoners first, Boris Johnson is sticking to further stealth-taxes on fares even as he argues for tax cuts for the rich.

“These fare rises are absolutely staggering. Under Boris Johnson the price of a single bus fare will be 56 per cent higher, a huge attack on ordinary Londoners and right across the board fares are soaring.

”Under the Tories, Londoners are less well off with every day that passes.
 
”Fares will be a central choice in next May’s election and in the coming weeks I will set out a fairer fares plan that puts Londoners first.”

Val Shawcross AM said:

“This decision by Boris Johnson to raise fares again is hugely damaging to millions of Londoners and will now be one of the central issues in the election campaign.

‘With Ken, Labour will propose a fairer package and aim to put Londoners first after four Tory years of indiscriminately squeezing the great majority of Londoners, from the suburbs to central London.”

Today’s announcement by Boris Johnson means:

Single bus ticket up 56%
·        was 90p in 2008
·        will be £1.40 in 2012
Costing Londoners £260 a year more

Weekly bus and tram pass up 47%
·        was £13.00 in 2008
·        will be £19.10 in 2012
Costing Londoners £317 a year more

Weekly zone 1-2 Travel Card up 23%
·        Was £24.20 in 2008
·        Will be £29.80 in 2012
Costing Londoners £291 a year more

Weekly zone 1-4 Travel Card up 23%
·        was £34.60 in 2008
·        will be £42.60 in 2012
Costing Londoners  £416 a year more     

Mayor confirms fares increase for 2012 to support unprecedented £12billion investment in London’s transport network

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today confirmed that from January 2012 fares on London’s Tubes, Buses, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Trams will rise by the level set out two years ago in Transport for London’s (TfL) Business Plan. This will maintain essential day to day public transport services and help continue record investment in London’s extensive transport network, which is experiencing surging passenger demand. All free and concessionary travel for older people, students, Veterans and disabled Londoners has been protected in full, which means that 40 per cent of bus passengers will continue to travel free or at a substantial concessionary rate.

From 2 January 2012, fares on TfL’s services will rise by an average of RPI + 2 per cent, the assumption outlined in TfL’s Business Plan in October 2009. Based on July’s RPI figure of 5 per cent, this represents an average 7 per cent fare increase across TfL services and Oyster pay as you go. Within this average there will be some TfL fares that go up less than 7 per cent, and some slightly more either due to small increments in rounding or because they are fares involving National Rail services but every effort has been made to ensure that this is distributed as evenly as possible across individual fares.

Following the Mayor’s successful campaign last year to protect Government contribution to TfL’s funding, unprecedented investment in London’s transport network will continue totalling £12billion over the Mayor’s four year term. This is an increase from £8billion investment from the previous administration.

The current investment programme includes upgrades to the Tube, now carrying a record 1.1billion passengers a year, delivery of Crossrail, and the maintenance of London’s frequent, extensive, reliable and accessible bus network, which is now carrying almost 2.3billion passengers a year – more than any other time since records began in the 1960’s. Further extensive improvements have also been made on the DLR and London Overground, both of which are also experiencing record ridership. Investment is vital for the transport network to continue to develop and improve and to meet future demand, which is set to grow yet further.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Despite some of the toughest economic times in living memory, I have secured unprecedented levels of investment for London’s transport network totalling £12billion over my four year term of office. Not since the days of our Victorian forefathers has there been improvements of this scale which includes upgrades and capacity increases ahead of 2012 and beyond to Crossrail. At the same time, we are focusing as never before on providing value for public money by committing to find significant savings of £7.6billion at TfL, over two thirds of which have now been secured. 

“Income from fares is vital to ensure the on-going health of London’s transport network, keeping services running for the billions of passengers who rely on them day in, day out. This is a fares package that continues my aim to put Transport for London’s finances on a steady footing, moving us away from the boom and bust approach undertaken by my predecessor when we saw a succession of draconian increases and knee-jerk, unaffordable pre-election freezes.

“This year, as Londoners begin to experience the benefits of that investment through more frequent and reliable journeys, I am also once again able to protect all free and concessionary travel for people who rely on public transport most, including older people, disabled veterans and those on lower incomes.

“I understand that any increase in tough times is difficult. This is a package that has sought to balance the needs of today’s passengers whilst ensuring we continue apace with plans to overhaul London’s transport system in the face of unprecedented demand.”

During the whole weekend of 10 and 11 September  river operators including Thames Clippers, City Cruises, Crown River Cruises, Turk Launches, Tate to Tate and Parr’s Circular Services are offering 2-for-1 tickets^* to help visitors make the most of this year’s festival.

The festival is a stunning, free celebration of London and its world-famous waterway and is a key highlight in the city’s cultural calendar.  Activities take place all over the weekend on the River Thames, the riverside, walkways, roads, bridges, docks and open spaces from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge and beyond.

London River Services’ piers will be operating throughout the weekend, helping to provide fast and picturesque journeys along the river, passing the London Eye, The Royal Festival Hall and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre along the way.

London’s river services will operate normally throughout the weekend.

Andy Griffiths, Head of London River Services, said: “With a whole host of activities around the river this weekend for both Londoners and visitors alike, there is never a better time to enjoy the Thames Festival than from a scheduled River Bus or River Tour service. Our special 2-for-1 ticket* offer and clearer passenger information should make it a great time for all.”

The new targeted clean up measures could reduce local pollution levels of particulate matter (PM₁₀) by 10-20 per cent where applied. They are financed from a Clean Air Fund secured by the Mayor and TfL from the Department for Transport (DfT). The funding, announced in April, will allow a package of local innovative measures already identified as part of the Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy to be initiated, fast tracked and expanded over the next nine months.

The first tranche of Clean Air Fund work includes:

· The expansion of the application of dust suppressants that stick particulate matter to the carriageway and prevent it from re-circulating in the air. Two additional vehicles are set to be converted to apply the dust suppressant enabling the two trial sites to be expanded into more areas including construction sites;

· The start of a concerted ‘No Engine Idling’ campaign to deter unnecessary engine running from all motor vehicles when stationary. This kicks off with a small team of ‘eco-marshals’ who will monitor taxi ranks at busy central London mainline stations and other on street ranks where air quality is particularly poor;

· The start of a greening programme to trap pollution – a row of 50 green towers (six foot tall planters) have been installed along Lower Thames Street, one of central London’s most polluted road. The green towers are also an attractive addition to the local area.

Air quality modelling shows that the vast majority of London already meets the European Commission limit value for annual average PM₁₀, but there are some local hotspots identified as being ‘at risk’ of exceeding limits. The European Commission recently confirmed to the UK government that the Mayor’s plans to reduce PM₁₀ pollution by a third by 2015 – including the work of the Clean Air Fund – has lifted the threat of hefty fines.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor’s Environment Director, said: “Pollution is a serious health issue and the Mayor is determined to reduce its impact. A comprehensive package of clean up measures including innovative technology, is now being targeted where most needed in central London. In addition, action is being taken to deliver a permanent legacy of cleaner air right across the Capital. This includes the first ever age limit for black cabs, tighter standards for the Low Emission Zone, cleaner buses, including the New Bus for London and an expanded bike hire scheme.”

The dust suppressant pilot study which ran from November 2010 to April 2011 was a UK first. Vehicles spread the biodegradable saline solution (Calcium Magnesium Acetate) in very small amounts evenly on road surfaces at two locations; Victoria Embankment and Marylebone Road. The results focused on the Victoria Embankment site and showed that repeated applications can be effective at reducing PM₁₀ at kerbside locations by between 10 and 14 per cent over 24 hourly periods. The scheme will continue to run on Victoria Embankment and Marylebone Road and will also be introduced to Park Lane and corridors such as the A2.  Trials at industrial and construction sites will also begin to help tackle the source of pollution where there are high levels of PM₁₀. 

A team of five eco-marshals will be visiting taxi ranks in pollution hotspots across the Capital to reduce engine idling time for taxis and minicabs whilst promoting eco-driving courses designed to reduce emissions, as well as save cabbies money through efficient driving techniques. The eco-marshals are existing TfL staff on secondment, two of whom are licensed London taxi drivers. They will be conducting research that will be used to inform future activity, identify where to focus efforts and develop better information to help taxi and private hire drivers change driving habits. Their research will also consider whether to change taxi rank layout and design. TfL’s Managing Director for Surface Transport, has also written to coach, bus and freight operators to encourage their drivers to switch off their engines whilst stationary.

Black cabs account for around a quarter of PM₁₀ emissions in central London with up to 15 per cent of that estimated to be as a result of taxi drivers leaving their engines idling when stationary.

The first part of a green infrastructure programme has also begun. Fifty planted towers have been placed along Lower Thames Street, which is a PM₁₀ hotspot area. The 6ft tall planters will contain bedding plants to help trap particulate matter and will be replaced with ivy in the winter. Other green infrastructure, including green walls and trees, will be planted at other PM₁₀ pollution hot-spots across London.  Studies across Europe and the USA have shown the potential of vegetation, including trees and plants, to trap PM₁₀.

The Clean Air Fund measures will be used flexibly where PM₁₀ levels are highest, allowing for the fact that London’s pollution levels can be weather dependent and influenced by pollution from outside the Capital.

Garrett Emmerson, Chief Operating Officer at TfL, said: “We are beginning to implement a number of projects from the Clean Air Fund now and Londoners are likely to start noticing these. These are measures we can introduce to target local PM₁₀ hotspots and put in place fairly quickly and build on our continuing work to improve air quality across London. The results of the dust suppressant trial are especially encouraging and prove that initiatives like this can work.”

The Clean Air Fund will fund the following initiatives:

· Taxi marshalling and management;

· A campaign to encourage drivers to switch off their engines when stationary;

· The expansion of the Cleaning and Application of Dust Suppressants trial;

· Trials of green walls and screens and additional tree planting;

· The installation of Diesel Particulate Filters to buses on selected routes; and

· A programme of business engagement to promote greener travel and reduce their air quality impact.

Plans in the mayor’s budget reveal a cut of 455 officers by the time London hosts the Olympics in 2012, the first substantial cut in numbers in London since power over policing was devolved in 2000. The mayor’s budget lays out the proposed cuts and says: “Over the three years to 2012-13, the number of police officers is forecast to decrease by 455.”

Scotland Yard have also announced a freeze in recruiting new constables, and in part blamed “the current economic position”.

Figures for the Met are available on the MPA website: http://www.mpa.gov.uk/statistics/police-numbers/

The decision of London & Partners, a publicly funded private company set up by Boris Johnson, not to take on the pensions of almost 200 current and former tourism staff ended up costing taxpayers £3 million, a London Assembly report has found. Len Duvall, leader of the Labour group on the Assembly, slammed the decision to “dump” the pensions as  “entirely avoidable”.

London & Partners was created in April this year to promote London. It was formed to continue the work of the Mayor’s three now defunct tourism and promotional agencies: Visit London, Study London and Think London. The decision to set up the new company cost London taxpayers a total of £5 million in “unforeseen costs”, according to the by the Assembly’s economy, culture and sport committee.

The new company decided not to take on the pension liabilities of staff transferring to London & Partners from one of the three agencies, Visit London, forcing it into administration and jeopardising the pensions of almost 200 people. But following pressure from the Assembly and an intervention by the pensions regulator, the Mayor agreed to bail out the pension scheme at a cost of £3 million.

The Assembly’s report finds that the £5 million total (£3 million to rescue the pensions and £2 million on start-up costs) “should have been foreseen and formed part of a cost-benefit analysis”2. "Ultimately of course", said Sir Peter Rogers, the Mayor’s economic adviser, "all decisions were taken by the Mayor as recorded in [Mayoral Decision] 658.”3

Deputy chair of the committee and Labour group leader Len Duvall today described the situation as a “costly fiasco” and slammed the Mayor for allowing the pensions to be “dumped”. The committee report concludes that the Mayor “could, and should, have prevented this from happening in the first place”4.

Calling on the Mayor to explain in detail how he intends to prevent a similar situation arising in the future, Len Duvall said: “This was an entirely avoidable situation which has cost London taxpayers millions and put pensioners and staff through needless anxiety. I welcome the fact the pensions will not now be dumped, but it’s clear the Mayor failed to assess the costs and implications of setting up this company.

“I expect the Mayor to take these concerns very seriously and respond to them in detail. I look forward to a meaningful commitment from the Mayor to the idea that, in future, organisations largely funded by the public purse should operate in a way that protects the interests of both London taxpayers and the pensions of any employees being transferred in to their employment.

“I hope the Mayor will reflect on these mistakes and provide the Assembly with further details of the absurd and wasteful situation of London taxpayers paying twice over as London & Partners scramble to buy up the assets that have been frozen by Visit London’s administrators.”

The Mayor originally said that the loss of pension entitlements for Visit London staff was “a decision that could not be avoided”5. It was only after pressure from Assembly members at Mayor’s question time, in committee meetings and following an intervention from the pension regulator that the Mayor agreed to “engage further with all parties to obtain a fair resolution”6. He announced a “scheme rescue”7 to ensure that the Pension Protection Fund did not have to compensate Visit London’s pensioners, as originally intended.

The 30-strong, Transport for London (TfL) funded  Metropolitan Police Cycle Task Force hit the Capital’s streets in June 2010, investigating and tackling cycle theft and criminal damage to bicycles.

Of the 200 arrests made by the Cycle Task Force in their first year, 175 have been for offences related to theft, with 74 per cent of those resulting in a positive outcome.

The Cycle Task Force is part of the Mayor’s Cycling Revolution, whereby the Mayor and TfL have worked closely with the police to drive down theft and make cycling safer and more secure.

In the 12 months since the Cycle Task Force launched, the Capital has seen a three per cent reduction in the number of bikes stolen in London, compared to the previous 12 months.

Cycle Task Force officers use various tactics to deter cycle crime in London. They gather valuable intelligence on suspected cycle theft-related cases, conduct high-visibility patrols and advise cyclists on issues such as security, safety and how to protectively mark their bikes.

In September 2010, ten additional Traffic Officers who hold advanced driving and riding qualifications became part of the Cycle Task Force. These officers focus on road user behaviour and breaches of traffic regulations, including cyclists who go through red lights and motorists who encroach past advanced stop lines (ASLs) which are reserved for cyclists.

As part of their efforts to raise awareness of safety issues involving cyclists, the Cycle Task Force have also engaged with over 6000 people through ‘Exchanging Places’ events. These events allow people to sit in the driver’s seat of an HGV (heavy goods vehicle) or bus to get a better understanding of what the driver can and can’t see, especially in regards to cyclists on the nearside and directly in front of the vehicle.

During a recent Cycle Task Force investigation, officers returned eight stolen bikes to their rightful owner after the bikes were spotted for sale online. The Cycle Task Force officers collaborated with Ealing’s MPS burglary squad after a report from the victim that her unique bikes, which had been stolen during a burglary, where listed on an auction site. The Cycle Task Force made enquiries with the website and as a result carried out a search warrant at a house in Sutton in March this year. A total of 14 bikes were found at the location, including the eight stolen during the burglary.

The victim, Charlotte Barnes, said: “We are profoundly grateful to the Metropolitan Police Service… My biggest vote of thanks though, goes out to the fabulous members of the Cycle Task Force. These guys are out there day in, day out, working for cycling and for cyclists in London, preventing and solving cycle crime.”

In addition to the successful introduction of the Cycle Task Force, TfL has also been working with road safety and cycling organisations and the freight industry to develop and deliver a Cycle Safety Action Plan.

The safety of London’s cyclists is a key priority for the Mayor and TfL and they are committed to making cycling in London as safe as possible. The Cycle Safety Action Plan sets out a range of actions to improve cycle safety in London. One initiative is to work with the freight industry to identify the most appropriate cycle safety devices for a variety of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). TfL has completed a technology trial with products designed specifically to alert HGV drivers to the presence of cyclists in close proximity of their vehicles. The final report documenting the results of the trial will be published later this summer, and is intended to be used as a guide for freight operators when selecting safety devices. TfL offers discounts for Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) members for various technology devices including side-scan sensors and close proximity camera systems.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London’s Director for Environment, said: “Our Cycle Task Force has made a real impact and I’m delighted with the progress they’ve made in tackling bike thefts and road safety so far. They are playing a key part in the cycle revolution the Mayor is bringing to the capital and I believe their efforts will give even more Londoners the confidence to take to two wheels.”

Cycle Task Force Chief Inspector Ian Vincent, said: “Since the introduction of the Cycle Task Force, London has seen a reduction in bike thefts and an increased awareness of cycle safety and security. However, we are not complacent and we will continue to create an environment where all cyclists and potential cyclists feel safe and secure to enjoy cycling in the Capital.”

Siwan Hayward, Deputy Director of Community Safety, Enforcement and Policing at TfL, said: “The hard work by the MPS Cycle Task Force unit over the past year shows that TfL, the Metropolitan Police and the Mayor take cycle theft seriously, and will continue to make cycle safety and security a priority as numbers continue to grow in the Capital.”

The MPS have recently selected BikeRegister as the preferred cycle register and bike marking product for London. BikeRegister, run by Selectamark will now supply police officers and local councils in London’s 32 boroughs with its bike marking kits and secure online registration service – www.bikeregister.com.

The Three R’s:

There are three simple steps that all cyclists should take so that if there bike is stolen they stand a good chance of being reunited with it:

Record – Keep a record for yourself of the frame number, make and any other marks that can identify your bike if it is stolen. The Cycle Taskforce run a number of bike marking events, details can be found at http://www.met.police.uk/transport/cycle_marking.html

Register – There are a number of websites where cyclists can register the details of their bikes and any distinguishing features/ frame numbers etc. The MPS have recently selected BikeRegister as the preferred cycle online registration service – www.bikeregister.com.

Report – If your bike is stolen then please make sure that you report it to the police. Bike theft is a significantly under reported crime. Reporting the theft will enable us to check databases and contact the owner once the bike is recovered.

As part of the continuing campaign against cycle theft, TfL and the MPS Safer Transport Command have produced a video that advises cyclists on how to protect their bike, available from the TfL and MPS YouTube pages. You can also find the ‘Exchanging Places’ video on the MPS YouTube page, which raises awareness of the dangers of collisions between cyclists and large vehicles.