Thieves target a cycling group tackling knife crime in Liverpool

Set up in May 2018, Liver Pedlaa Pool Community Cycle Club  has been reaching out to teenagers and young people, as part of the #KnifesDownBikesUp campaign.

The founder of the group ​Blaen Roberts runs education workshops, regular rides and leads a sponsored mountain bike team. Blaen, who was previously involved in gang culture, set up the cycling group to prevent other vulnerable young people from joining gangs.

Last week his bike was stolen. ​Blaen described the theft as heart-breaking, he said the bike “was a weapon against knife crime” and went on to explain “I receive no funding at the minute and put all my time, blood, sweat and tears into what I do and this movement. I need a mountain bike ready for the trails for the weekly excursions and so I can continue to manage Liverpool’s mountain bike race team”.

The Community Cycling Club works with hundreds of young people across Merseyside to provide cycling as a diversionary activity, particularly focusing on education around knife crime. 

Ross Adams

Ross Adams, Cycling UK’s Cycling Development Manager, said “the Community Cycling Club works with hundreds of young people across Merseyside to provide cycling as a diversionary activity, particularly focusing on education around knife crime, their Knives Down Bikes Up and No More Knives initiatives are having really outstanding positive effects on the young people they are working with”.

The theft occurred Friday (22 February) night in the Kirby area of Merseyside and has been reported to the police.

For anyone looking to donate an unwanted bike to Liver Pedlaa Pool, please contact Cycling UK by email [email protected] or if you would like to make a donation to help Blaen replace his bike you can do so on their GoFund Me page.