Three suspected drug dealers, all riding Lime bikes, were arrested within hours of each other by City of London Police officers patrolling the streets.

At 4.30pm yesterday (15/10/2026), officers were on patrol at St Paul’s Churchyard when their attention was drawn to a man on a Lime bike. The cyclist travelled through a red traffic light and was stopped by officers. Officers suspected that he was dealing drugs and detained him for a search. Thirteen wraps of class A drugs were found, believed to be cocaine. He also was found to have £900 in cash on him. The 26-year-old Albanian national man was arrested and brought into custody.

At 9.20pm a man on a Lime bike was heading northbound on Bishopsgate and was stopped by officers under the road traffic act. Officers had a suspicion that he was travelling to carry out a drug deal. He was searched and found to be carrying £1030 in and had 15 wraps of suspected cocaine. A 35-year-old Albanian national male of no fixed abode was arrested and brought into custody.

Six minutes later, officers saw a man looking at a mobile phone while riding a Lime bike near Liverpool Street. Two wraps of a white substance believed to be cocaine and £320 in cash was located on his person.

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Ives, City of London Police said: “Our officers are out on the streets of the City every day, and if drug dealers think they can jump on a hired e-bike, ride into the Square Mile and sell drugs without being caught, they are badly mistaken.

“We will stop them, we will arrest them and bring them before the courts. The City is not a safe haven for drug dealers, and we will continue to pursue anyone who thinks they can use our streets to commit crime.”

The arrests come as City of London Police steps up its enforcement against cyclists who ignore red lights, following the launch this week of a new initiative offering offending cyclists the chance to watch a hard-hitting road safety film instead of receiving an immediate fixed penalty notice.

These arrests demonstrate how City of London Police officers are tackling crimes connected to cycling, including those using hire bikes to deal drugs.

This comes just days after the City of London Police introduced a new STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, CHANGE road safety initiative. The approach tackles cyclists who ignore red lights, giving offending riders the opportunity to watch a short hard-hitting road safety film instead of receiving an immediate fixed penalty notice.

The film showcases 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.

The initiative forms part of the force’s engagement, education and enforcement approach to road safety and builds on the work of the City of London Police Cycle Team.

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.

“This does not replace enforcement or mean all cyclists who 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.”