# CE2004078EN.01076201.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/762 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/762

---

(2004/C 78 E/0810)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2880/03

by Jan Dhaene (PSE) to the Council

(29 September 2003)

Subject:   Bicycle theft

Subject:

Every year, enormous numbers of bicycles are stolen. Many are stolen for individual use, but large numbers of bicycles are also fed into stolen-goods circuits, some of which operate on an international scale.

Belgian research shows that bicycle theft is the ‘daily bread’ of criminals who are involved in more serious crime. Bicycle theft is the most widespread form of crime in Europe.

Plans which the bicycle industry wanted to develop in response to requests from consumer associations and the European Cyclists' Federation, which involved the standardisation of serial numbers, identity chips and obligatory U-locks, have come to nought.

The Council:

| — | does it have any accurate information about the number of bicycles stolen in the various Member States and about where such stolen goods finish up; |
| --- | --- |

—

does it have any accurate information about the number of bicycles stolen in the various Member States and about where such stolen goods finish up;

| — | does it acknowledge the impact of mass bicycle theft on the attractiveness of the bicycle as a sustainable mode of transport and on an individual's feeling of insecurity; |
| --- | --- |

—

does it acknowledge the impact of mass bicycle theft on the attractiveness of the bicycle as a sustainable mode of transport and on an individual's feeling of insecurity;

| — | is it, together with the bicycle industry, planning to take measures to prevent bicycle theft? |
| --- | --- |

—

is it, together with the bicycle industry, planning to take measures to prevent bicycle theft?

Reply

(4 March 2004)

(4 March 2004)

| 1. | The Council shares the opinion of the Honourable Member of the European Parliament that bicycle theft has an impact on the attractiveness of the bicycle as a mode of transport and on citizens' feeling of insecurity. |
| --- | --- |

1.

The Council shares the opinion of the Honourable Member of the European Parliament that bicycle theft has an impact on the attractiveness of the bicycle as a mode of transport and on citizens' feeling of insecurity.

| 2. | The Council has no information about the number of bicycles stolen in the Member States and where the stolen bicycles finish up. |
| --- | --- |

2.

The Council has no information about the number of bicycles stolen in the Member States and where the stolen bicycles finish up.

| 3. | As concerns measures to prevent bicycle theft, the Council draws attention to:






  (a) | Council Resolution of 27.5.1999 on combating international crime with fuller cover of the routes used (1). This Resolution aims at improving practical cooperation between police services in the Member States in order to combat a specific form of crime on the basis of a coordinated policy; |
| --- | --- | --- |

3.

As concerns measures to prevent bicycle theft, the Council draws attention to:

(a)

Council Resolution of 27.5.1999 on combating international crime with fuller cover of the routes used (1). This Resolution aims at improving practical cooperation between police services in the Member States in order to combat a specific form of crime on the basis of a coordinated policy;

1

| (b) | Council Decision 2001/427/JHA of 28.5.2001 setting up a European crime prevention network (2). This network has the task to contribute to developing the various aspects of crime prevention activities. |
| --- | --- |

(b)

Council Decision 2001/427/JHA of 28.5.2001 setting up a European crime prevention network (2). This network has the task to contribute to developing the various aspects of crime prevention activities.

2

---

(1)  OJ C 162, 9.6.1999, p. 1.

1

(2)  OJ L 153, 8.6.2001, p. 1.

2

---