FOI 406/25

REQUEST 

1. How many bicycles (i.e. push bikes, including e-bikes) were seized by your police force in the years 2020-2024, broken down by year? 

2. How many seized bicycles were recovered by a third party recovery specialist (i.e. a contracted firm responsible for recovering vehicles seized by the police) - figures requested are for 2020-2024, broken down by year? 

3. What was the approximate financial value for the contract to recover bicycles in the years 2020-2024, broken down by year?

Clarification:

South Wales Police: In regards to point 3, could you please clarify whether it is monies received by SWP in respect of scrap or auction of seized bikes or  monies paid to the recovery service?

Applicant: Monies paid to the recovery service, please. 

South Wales Police: Sorry to come back again but our Operational Support dept want you to be more specific on the question 3?

Applicant: It probably depends how as a force you calculate the cost of third party recovery services. 

Ideally there would be a line in the police budget for that year dealing with the cost of bicycles (and e-bikes) being recovered by third parties contracted by the police. 

I appreciate that might not be the case - and you only know the overall cost to the police of all third party recovery services (including motor vehicles). 

If it's not possible to calculate the cost of recovering bikes then don't worry. 

RESPONSE

We have consulted with our Operational Support Services Department who have provided us with the information.

Question 1

Please see the below table that provides the number of bicycles seized broken down by calendar year:

Question 2

South Wales Police uses a third-party (a contracted company) to recover all vehicles seized.

Question 3

Please see the below table that provides the cost to South Wales Police broken down by calendar year:

Please be advised, that some of the bicycles (i.e. push bikes, including e-bikes) were scrapped. The garages that scrapped the bicycles have received payment for this and therefore have not charged South Wales Police for the recovery. These are therefore not included in the above figures.