Modern Vespa

[Quote from the Standard article]"What needs to be done? The only person with the political authority and influence to tackle this crisis is the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan. He should call a summit, preferably in conjunction with Home Secretary Amber Rudd, manufacturers and the police and develop a strategy to tackle this plague before it gets out of hand and goes nationwide.

The outline of such a strategy is, frankly, common sense. First and foremost the law needs to be changed to give the police protection so they can sensibly pursue miscreants on mopeds without fear of being charged themselves. The policy on pursuits can then be revised to make it more efficient and less defensive.

Second, the Government needs to put a rocket under moped manufacturers so that they make their bikes harder to steal. Any idiot with a screwdriver can hotwire a moped or motorbike in two minutes. So far manufacturers have resisted this on the basis that thefts are the fault of drivers leaving vehicles unlocked. Well, maybe. But this is not good enough and, in fact, utterly wrong and pathetic.

Third, Google, YouTube and other internet providers need to be forced to take down the profusion of videos which they carry showing how to commit crimes. Want to learn how to hotwire, pick locks or cut up different types of chains? It's easy - just go on to the web and teach yourself from home.

As for we bike riders, we too should have a legal duty to lock up our bikes with not just one but two strong locks, lest we lose our insurance or licence. It isn't funny being woken in the night by violent criminals. Still less so if you realise that your lovely scooter is, within hours, going to be used in a crime against some other innocent person, then smashed up and left by the side of the road. "

How do people feel about that? Especially point 4.

I know that in some cases insurance will require a certain level of security or else it won't pay out. I know that many of us accept that you need to lock it or lose it. But how do we feel about being required to lock it by law?

Don't know what I think. I'm open to both sides of the argument...

Three arrested and charged, one with murder. Trial at the Old Bailey in March: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/two-more-charged-in-connection-with-death-of-celebrity-bodyguard-ricky-hayden-in-chadwell-heath-a3426986.html

absolutely agree with points 1 through 3. point 4 I'm not so sure about. one lock, okay, but two? that's like suggesting that all homeowners should be legally required to put iron bars on their downstairs windows to stop criminals getting in.

i've also got points 5 and 6 to add - first, crack down on the people selling stolen scooters, ringers and parts on ebay and gumtree - they're ridiculously easy to spot - and second, bring pressure on ebay and gumtree themselves to prohibit the sale of stolen goods via their platforms.

Glad to see that the scumbags behind Ricky Hayden's murder are going to be brought to justice. I only hope the punishment isn't risible, as they often are.