Cyclists could be slapped with tougher penalties and 'potential prosecution' under new proposals

The amount would increase beyond the current £50 fine, which is the current cap on cycling offences, including jumping red lights.

The force has now stated that it is considering the use of Community Protection Warnings and Notices, which can escalate into prosecution.

It comes after the City of London's Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee was presented with evidence which found that while cycling numbers have risen, so has frustration with reckless riders.

According to research, over the past 25 years, daily cycling journeys in the city have increased dramatically, rising from 8,000 in 1999 to more than 50,000 in 2024.

Meanwhile, the number of cars in the capital has fallen just as sharply, with major roads redesigned to incorporate more cycle lanes throughout the city.

The rise in cyclists in the city has caused more havoc for Londoners who have complained about riders flying through red lights at busy junctions, weaving through pedestrians on pavements, and using illegal or modified e-bikes on narrow streets.

City Police warned that these issues now represent some of the most frequent forms of anti-social behaviour in central London.

The force's specialist Cycle Team, which was relaunched in 2023, has already issued almost 1,000 fines and offered advice to more than 8,600 riders.

The force has also seized nearly 700 illegal bikes and scooters, with many linked to the food delivery trade.

The bikes, often bought online and modified with illegal kits, were found to easily exceed the legal 15.5mph speed limit for e-bikes.

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Police have warned that the problem is now so widespread that they are struggling to keep up due to having just 11 officers on the team to tackle thousands of daily cyclists.

At the meeting, Councillor Jacqueline Webster called for efforts to promote a "culture of courteousness" among cyclists.

Other issues threatening the safety of Londoners included dockless bikes, which have been dumped poorly on pavements.

But Bruce McVean, assistant director for policy and projects at the City of London Corporation, insisted progress was being made but admitted: "There's more work to be done."

Both the City Police and Corporation have now started lobbying the Government to strengthen cycling laws.

They argued that the £50 maximum fine, which has remained unchanged for years, is no longer a meaningful deterrent.

The firms have also called for tougher restrictions on the sale of modification kits that turn ordinary e-bikes into illegal vehicles.

Official reports detailed: "Higher penalties for repeat offending. This would offer more serious sanctions than the standard £50 Fixed Penalty Notice for individual traffic offences.

"This includes potential prosecution - under an 'escalation pathway' like that already in use in the City for persistent begging (where sanctions increase with the number of repeat offences)."