Police Turning Blind Eye To Law-Breaking Cyclists, Claims Nick “Mr Loophole” Freeman

Police are turning an increasingly blind eye to cyclists breaking the law, the country’s top traffic lawyer has claimed.

Nick Freeman, aka Mr Loophole, said that despite cycling as a mode of transport rising sharply nationwide in the last decade, only 839 cyclists in the whole of London were fined last year for riding on pavements, compared to 6,423 in 2011.

In Manchester, 189 were fined for the same offence in 2011, but last year this had slumped to just 43. Its officers also fined just four cyclists last year for riding at night without lights.

Last year in West Yorkshire, its police forced handed out just 17 fines in total to cyclists breaching a number of laws, including riding at night without lights (two) and failing to comply with the indication given by a traffic sign (three).

In Merseyside last year only 12 cyclists were fined for failing to stop at junctions compared to 35 in 2012. And there were only 222 penalty notices issued to those riding their bikes on footpaths compared to 1,208 in 2011.

The figures were obtained under the provision of the Freedom of Information Act, when four forces – The Met, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire – were each asked the number of fines handed down to cyclists in the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and last year, for:

• Riding on a footpath
• Riding at night without lights
• Failing to stop at junctions

These tumbling figures are against a backdrop of the increasing number of cyclists on Britain’s roads. In 2014, it was said there were 645,000 cycle journeys a day across London as a whole.

Mr Freeman said: “For a number of years now I have been calling for bicycles to have identification plates so those riders who break the law can be caught and prosecuted.

“Whilst some may suggest the figures have fallen because less cyclists are breaking the law that is clearly total nonsense.

“Every day, I see a plethora of cyclists breaking a number of laws including riding on footpaths, riding through red lights and cycling at night without lights.

“Yet, because they are unidentifiable coupled with a dwindling number of traffic police who regard these offences as low priority – they get away with it!

“The figures from West Yorkshire Police are simply pitiful. This force covers the cities of Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield and yet it only fined three cyclists last year for riding on the pavement. I find that astonishing!”

Mr Freeman added: “Cycling on footpaths is a danger to pedestrians, and cycling at night without lights is a danger for all, yet countless do it on a regular basis.

“And if you dare challenge a cyclist for riding on a footpath more often than not you are met with a tirade of verbal abuse.

“The laws are there for a reason and I don’t believe our police forces are taking them seriously.”

FOI Statistics:

About Nick Freeman

Nick Freeman is probably the best known solicitor practising in the country today.

He has been dubbed "Mr Loophole" by the press owing to his vast technical knowledge of motoring law matters and his ability to successfully challenge the prosecution over procedural irregularities.

Nick is widely known for his celebrity client list and high profile criminal defence cases.

Nick is the head of Freeman & Co. Solicitors and although based in Manchester, represents defendants in motoring and criminal cases all over the country.

After graduating from Chester Law School in 1979, Nick started his career as a prosecuting solicitor for Greater Manchester Police.

Nick soon became known for his technical legal abilities and robust court room style and he was soon recruited into private practice by the highly respected solicitors firm of Burton & Co. He was soon to be made a partner at the practice but in 1999 he decided to start his own firm following which Freeman & Co. was formed.

Owing to Nick's meticulous case preparation and technical legal skill he soon made Freeman & Co. one of the most respected and sought after criminal solicitors firms in the country.

Despite the celebrity client list and media attention, Nick and Freeman & Co. have built their practice on representing ordinary members of the public with the same tenacity as those more high profile cases that are reported in the press and on TV.

Outside of his professional practice Nick is a regular expert guest on TV and radio and is well regarded as an expert legal commentator. He is an ardent supporter of defendant anonymity in sex cases.

In recent times his credits have included Tonight With Trevor MacDonald, Close Up North West, Channel 4 News, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live to name but a few. He also appears regularly on Sky News, BBC News 24 and Legal Eagles on ITV's This Morning. Nick is a regular legal commentator for the Sunday Times.

A father of 2 children Nick is a keen golfer with a 2.9 handicap and enjoys vigorous exercise with his Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Contacting Nick Freeman

For professional matters and representation Nick can be contacted through Freeman & Co. on 0161 236 7007 or you can send him a confidential email by clicking here.

If you would like to contact Nick for a media appearance or legal comment please call David Simister on 0845 389 26 26.