London’s Metropolitan Police this week expanded its fleet of high-speed e-bikes, deploying 20 new models capable of reaching 80 km/h to pursue suspects involved in street crimes such as phone theft.

Officers can follow suspects off roads and even up stairs. A senior officer described the expansion as a “game changer”. The force also uses drones in its policing operations.

The Met says the bikes have been particularly useful in tackling mobile phone theft. Offences in the 12 months to May fell from about 68,000 to 54,000. However, fewer than 1% of cases result in a caution, charge or other formal action against a suspect.

Kaya Comer-Schwartz, London’s deputy mayor for policing and crime, said efforts to tackle phone theft must be accompanied by improvements to the wider criminal justice system and support for victims.

The latest figures also show that neighbourhood crimes such as thefts, robberies and burglaries in London fell in the year to June.

(Reuters, lud)