The City of London Police revealed a new approach to addressing cyclists who skip red lights yesterday.
The force created a ‘Sin Bin’ at the side of the road where cyclists caught going through red lights were offered the opportunity to watch a road safety film instead of being fined.
“The film will showcase the potentially devastating consequences of dangerous cycling, including a testimony from a cyclist who was struck by a bus, as well as highlighting the very real dangers faced by visually impaired and blind pedestrians when cyclists fail to stop at red lights,” City of London Police said in a press release.
A clip posted on the City of London Police’s social media showed cyclists watching the film under a gazebo by Bank Junction.
Sergeant Stuart Ford, cycle team lead at City of London Police, said: “We want cyclists to stop and take a moment to see the danger, listen to the experiences of those who have been affected, and think about the consequences of their behaviour.
“Going through a red light might save a few seconds, but it can change someone’s life forever.”
Ford added that this approach does not mean all cyclists that go through a red light will avoid a fine.
“It is an additional tool for our officers, reflecting our approach of engagement, education and enforcement. The intervention will be incorporated into our patrols and operations, with officers using their discretion on when it is appropriate. Cyclists will not always be offered this option – where enforcement is necessary, we will enforce,” he said.
The film showcases the potentially devastating consequences of dangerous cycling as well as highlighting the very real dangers faced by visually impaired and blind pedestrians when cyclists fail to stop at red lights.
Read more https://t.co/FaUu5vNHuu https://t.co/OO3o809zUP
— City of London Police (@CityPolice) October 14, 2026
The ‘Sin Bin’ is the latest development in the City of London Police’s approach to tackling anti-social road use.
Its Cycle Response Unit was relaunched in 2023 and is said to provide “a highly visible policing presence across the Square Mile”. The team was established to tackle a variety of offences including phone snatching and drug offences, alongside road traffic offences.
In April, the force ran a “cycle roadshow” where cyclists who jumped red lights were given the opportunity to speak to people who are visually impaired, with refusal to attend resulting in a £50 fine.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, the City of London Police issued more than double the number of fixed penalty notices for cyclists jumping red lights compared to the previous year.
Cycling in the City of London increased by 50 per cent from 2022 to 2024, the City of London Corporation revealed in April 2025.
In November 2025, Transport for London revealed that cycling journeys in the capital were up 43% compared to 2019 levels.
Transport for London also said in May 2026 that cyclist deaths hit the second lowest level ever recorded in 2025.
