It was the case in the past that police usually wouldn't chase 2-wheeled criminals in case they fell off in the chase and damaged themselves (especially if helmetless). This led to thieves taking advantage of it to enjoy apparent immunity from chase. But not any more, as they are now finding to their cost.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44204844

That is still the case despite the policing minister talking a load of cxxp about how officers had nothing to fear. I speak as an ex officer who tactically contacted a youth on a stolen bike, who had knocked two people over. He was uninjured and arrested. There were loads of witnesses who backed up my actions.... However I was suspended from driving for over eighteen months, interviewed and threatened with a dangerous driving charge, basically I was treated worse then the little sxxt on the bike. When it all settled down I told them to shove my pursuit permit and went to Cid instead. As for being involved in a pursuit forget it especially if serious injury or god forbid death is involved, you will b tossed to the wolves.
Personally I wouldn't blame any officer who refused to pursue...... Its their driving licence and potentially their liberty at stake

I don't doubt you Chris and I applaud you for your service in the past sir. But what you're describing is the past situation that led to the changes that are afoot now. If a scrote gets injured in a tactical stop it's right that it should be investigated, same as if firearms shoots shoots someone waving a weapon around or a householder fights off an intruder. I agree 100% that it's wrong for an officer to be put in the wrong for genuinely upholding the law and protecting the public, and clearly it's completely unacceptable for scrotes to think they are untouchable if they are on mopeds.

But with the right guidelines in place I do believe it can be done, and since it became a bigger problem with the media raising its profile they have had to make changes. Not saying they can't go further but it's a good first step.

Police use ‘stingers’ and ‘tactical contact’ to force moped suspects off the road | Camden New Journal

Law in EU and Islands should take example from US police, over there if something happen to the policeman during the pursuit biker will be responsible. It was case like that, when policemen died in crash chasing a bike.
Biker went to jail for long time. Political correctness and tolerance will kill us all slowly.

Thanks for sharing, a lot of useful info for a guy who's recently started traveling by his own bike.

Don't let any of it scare you, aware is as far as you need go.

25 years and I've had one attempted theft. That was an F650 and it would have served the *****r right if he'd ended up stuck with the POS.

Andy

Ask a bike thief
 

A couple of years ago my new Ducati 1098 was stolen from my garage.
It was a couple of nights after I had been to my local bike night. That evening, Wednesday bike night a couple of s..s who were described as Polish (but that was probably wrong) were walking around the hundreds of bikes. Later got caught putting a cheap tracker on a bike, and got advised, in a forceful manner to leave, they left in Blue Transit van. Clearly my bike had had one of there trackers stuck on. Seems as if I may have been followed home, but I didnt notice.
Any way bike nicked overnight from the garage, on the Friday a neighbour saw it being loaded into a Blue Transit van, rang the Police but too late was gone. And never heard of again, until a few weeks later a mate told me to look on eBay. sure enough I could identify some bits for sale as mine bike. Police made aware but there was nothing they could do as the parts were for sale in Latvia.
How it got to Latvia from UK i've no idea, broken down or complete in the back of that transit, who knows.

My deterrence technique is centred around a securely lock garage containing an aging, haggard Transalp, and an only slightly younger TDM.

When I still had my GS (RIP) I had a great system: through the frame ALMAX chain and Squire lock, secluded ground anchor, no slack, disc lock rear and another chain linking with the first through the front wheel.

Took me longer to park the bike than ride to work! And work was 45km away!! :D