Bicester Town

E-Scooters/E-Bikes

Following a public consultation and online survey during August 2026, the community has identified concerns relating to the use of e-scooters and e-bikes in pedestrianised areas of Bicester Town Centre, particularly Sheep Street, Pioneer Square and Crown Walk, have been identified as an ongoing issue for residents, businesses and visitors.

Issues raised include unsafe riding, illegal use on public roads and pavements, and the associated risk to pedestrians and other road users.

In response, the Bicester Neighbourhood Policing Team will prioritise education, enforcement, and engagement over the next three months to improve safety and ensure compliance with legislation.

Residents, businesses, and partners highlighted:

•Unsafe riding on pavements and in pedestrian areas
•Use of privately owned e-scooters on public roads, which is unlawful
•Speeding and inconsiderate riding of e-bikes and modified cycles
•Increased risk to vulnerable pedestrians, including elderly residents and children
•A need for clear guidance and visible enforcement

Following recent Have Your Say events and feedback received through our online community survey, concerns relating to the use of e-scooters and e-bikes in pedestrianised areas of Bicester Town Centre, particularly Sheep Street, Pioneer Square and Crown Walk, have been identified as an ongoing issue for residents, businesses and visitors.

As a result, the misuse of e-scooters and e-bikes within these town centre locations has been set as a Neighbourhood Policing Team priority for the period September to December 2026.

The Bicester Neighbourhood Team continues to receive reports of e-scooters and e-bikes being ridden at speed through pedestrian areas, causing concern for shoppers, town centre workers and those who may be more vulnerable, including elderly residents and young families.

Officers will continue to carry out high-visibility patrols and engage with riders to educate them about safe and lawful use. Where offences are identified, appropriate enforcement action will be taken. The team will also work closely with local businesses, Cherwell District Council and other partner agencies to address community concerns and improve safety within the town centre.

We encourage members of the public to continue reporting incidents and sharing information with us. Feedback from the community plays an important role in helping us identify problem areas and direct patrols to where they are needed most.

We would like to thank everyone who has engaged with us through our community meetings and surveys. Your views help shape our priorities and ensure we focus on the issues that matter most to local people.

Further updates on activity, engagement and enforcement action relating to this priority will be published on this webpage each month.

Retail Crime – Bicester Town Centre

This priority focuses on continued concerns raised by local businesses regarding shoplifting, abuse of staff, organised retail theft and associated anti social behaviour within the town centre.

We will provide monthly updates on activity, outcomes and emerging trends across the three month period.
Why This Priority Was Chosen

During the consultation, retailers and members of the public highlighted:
•Persistent shoplifting affecting independent and national stores
•Aggressive or threatening behaviour towards staff and security
•Groups targeting multiple premises in a single day
•Losses impacting local businesses and community confidence

We also considered recent incident data and intelligence from the Bicester Retail Crime Partnership and Cherwell District Council.

Following recent Have Your Say events and feedback received through our online community survey, concerns relating to retail crime in Bicester Town Centre have been identified as an ongoing issue for local businesses, employees and members of the public.

As a result, Retail Crime in Bicester Town Centre has been reaffirmed as a Neighbourhood Policing Team priority for the period September to December 2026.

The Bicester Neighbourhood Team remains committed to tackling shop theft, violence against shop workers and other offences that impact local retailers. We recognise the significant effect these crimes can have on businesses, staff wellbeing and the wider community, and we will continue to work closely with retailers, security staff, the Town Centre Management Team and partner agencies to identify offenders and bring them to justice.

Officers will continue to carry out targeted patrols in key retail locations, gather intelligence, identify prolific offenders and utilise all available powers and investigative opportunities to prevent and detect offences. Where appropriate, we will pursue criminal investigations, seek Criminal Behaviour Orders and work with partner agencies to address the underlying causes of offending.

We would like to thank local businesses and residents who have taken the time to engage with us through our surveys, meetings and regular reporting. The information you provide plays a vital role in helping us understand community concerns and target our activity where it is needed most.

Further updates on activity, enforcement action and progress against this priority will be published on this webpage each month.

Anti Social Behaviour (ASB)

Location Focus:
•Bicester Town Centre
•Launton Road
•Garth Park including the Overbridge

What the Community Told Us

We engaged with residents through an online survey and direct consultation.

The consistent feedback identified:
•Ongoing issues with youth-related ASB, including disorder, noise, and intimidation
•Concerns about public spaces feeling unsafe, particularly during evenings
•A desire for increased police visibility and engagement

Following recent Have Your Say events and feedback received through our online community survey, concerns relating to anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Bicester Town Centre and the Launton Road area, including Garth Park, have again been highlighted as a significant issue for local residents, businesses and visitors.

As a result, Anti-Social Behaviour in Bicester Town Centre and the Launton Road area (including Garth Park) has been reaffirmed as a Neighbourhood Policing Team priority for the period September to December 2026.

The Bicester Neighbourhood Team continues to work proactively with partner agencies to address youth-related ASB and improve the safety and confidence of those living, working and visiting the area. Officers will continue to carry out high-visibility patrols, engage with young people, gather intelligence and take robust action where offences or anti-social behaviour are identified.

We will also continue to utilise powers available under the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle behaviours that have a detrimental impact on the local community and ensure appropriate enforcement action is taken when necessary.

We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to engage with us through our surveys and community meetings. Your feedback directly influences the priorities we set and helps us focus our resources where they are most needed.

Further updates on activity, enforcement action and progress against this priority will be published on this webpage each month.