The National Acquisitive Crime Conference 2026 took place over two days, 7–8 July, at the De Vere Latimer Estate in Buckinghamshire, bringing together police forces, local authorities and industry partners to address the UK's most pressing acquisitive crime challenges. Free to attend, the conference was opened and closed each day by Ian Dyson CBE QPM DL, former Commissioner of the City of London Police, with a welcome from James Brown, Managing Director of Selectamark, on both days. Day Two, headlined by BikeRegister, focused on cycle crime.

Tackling cycle crime together

Cycle theft remains a persistent problem across the UK. In 2025, 49,085 crime reports relating to bicycle theft were made to police forces in England and Wales, a 9% fall on 2024's figure of 54,010 – though the true scale is thought to be considerably higher, with an estimated 56–71% of bike theft victims not reporting the crime to police. In London alone, an estimated 20,000 bikes are reported stolen each year, equating to more than 50 thefts a day.

Against this backdrop, the conference gives policing, local authorities and industry a rare chance to compare what is and isn't working on cycle crime specifically – from force-led operations like bike marking and decoy schemes to community partnerships – and to recognise, through the accompanying awards, the individuals and teams translating that work into measurable results.

What was covered at the National Acquisitive Crime Conference 2026

Day Two opened with a keynote from Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police, followed by a national overview of cycle theft from Inspector Titus Halliwell (City of London Police) and a session from Tom Fyans, CEO of the London Cycling Campaign. Force-led case studies included North Yorkshire Police's Operation Battery, Cumbria Constabulary's Operation Raptor, Northumbria Police's approach to policing mass ride-outs, and Cambridgeshire's work with the Cambridge Cycle Crime Reduction Group.

The day also covered integrated offender management, a joint initiative between Northumbria Police and Northumbria University, and using BikeRegister to improve community relations in serious violence and ASB hotspots in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

This followed the National Acquisitive Crime Reduction Awards gala dinner, which recognised individuals, teams and partnerships driving progress across all forms of acquisitive crime – see the full list of winners and runners-up, including the Cambridge Cycle Crime Reduction Group and York Inner Neighbourhood Policing Team among this year's list.

Looking ahead to next year’s conference

With cycle theft still under-reported and forces continuing to develop new prevention tactics, the conversations started at this year's conference will remain a priority. Selectamark looks forward to bringing policing and industry back together for the National Acquisitive Crime Conference 2027, continuing to build on the partnerships and progress showcased this year.

For further information and images contact: Victoria Clark, Marketing Executive for Selectamark.

Phone: +44 (0)1689 487829
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @bikeregister