Motorcycling bodies launch ten-point plan to tackle motorcycle theft and anti-social behaviour

The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has launched a ten-point plan aimed at tackling motorcycle theft, anti-social behaviour and the use of motorcycles in wider criminal activity.

The plan has been developed with support from the motorcycle industry and is intended to bring police, Government, manufacturers, retailers and rider organisations together rather than tackling the problems individually.

The NMC says thousands of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds are stolen in the UK every year, with some subsequently used in crimes including theft from pedestrians, shops and businesses, as well as county lines drug activity.

Anti-social use of motorcycles is also part of the plan, with the NMC highlighting concerns around illegal and dangerous riding. It also points to high-powered e-bikes, which it says are sometimes misidentified as motorcycles, as another issue facing police and local communities.

The organisation says the problems don’t just affect the people directly involved. Motorcycle theft and anti-social behaviour can also affect local communities, businesses and police forces, while potentially damaging the reputation of motorcycling more generally.

According to the NMC, this can have a knock-on effect for legitimate riders, particularly where concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour lead to calls for restrictions on motorcycle access in urban and rural areas.

The ten-point plan therefore covers more than simply preventing theft. It proposes greater use of technology and intelligence, improved analysis and targeting, vehicle registration measures, enforcement and rider education.

The NMC also wants better coordination between the different organisations involved in tackling motorcycle crime, arguing that previous anti-theft campaigns have not produced a fundamental change in motorcycle theft levels.

There are already some signs of improvement. The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), which supports the plan, says motorcycle theft figures for 2025 were almost 15 per cent lower than they were in 2022. It attributes the reduction to investment from the industry, greater attention to security from riders and stronger police enforcement.

The new plan is not being presented as something that can all be delivered immediately. NMC Executive Director Craig Carey-Clinch says some measures are already being progressed, while others will require longer-term investment and partnership. Some elements of the framework remain aspirational at this stage.

The NMC and MCIA will now work with Government, police and other organisations on developing the proposals.

The MCIA released a statement as the plan was announced:

“Motorcycle theft remains a serious issue for riders, retailers and the wider industry, and we will always support measures, like this action plan, that help reduce it further. However, it is encouraging to see that motorcycle theft rates are falling, and 2025 figures are almost 15% lower than in 2022.

“These improvements reflect key investment from industry, riders taking security seriously and stronger enforcement from police.

“There is always more to do, and this ten-point plan is a helpful start to help drive theft down further and ultimately ensuring motorcycling is recognised for the important contribution it makes to the environment, society and the UK economy.”

The wider aim is to reduce motorcycle theft and anti-social behaviour while disrupting criminal networks that use motorcycles for other offences. For the motorcycle industry, there is also a more practical reason for tackling the problem: reducing the criminal and anti-social activity associated with motorcycles could help remove one of the barriers to wider acceptance of motorcycling as a form of transport to the non-riding general public.

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