Cyclists who disobey the rules of the road and run a red light could now face a new punishment.

City of London Police will be offering riders a chance to see the consequences of dangerous riding first-hand as part of a new approach to tackling cyclists who ignore red lights – a crime which is on the rise as cycling in the city increases.

The force has issued 1,315 fixed penalty notices to cyclists during 2025-2026 for offences including going through red lights, more than double the 643 issued during the previous financial year.

Instead of receiving an immediate fixed penalty notice, cyclists who rush through a red light will be given the opportunity to watch a short, hard-hitting road safety film instead.

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.

“People feel strongly about cyclists running red lights, and rightly so. It can put pedestrians at risk, particularly those who are blind or visually impaired,” Tijs Broeke, chair of the City of London Police Authority Board, said.

“This initiative combines education with enforcement to make the Square Mile’s streets safer for everyone.

“It shows what locally accountable policing can deliver when it focuses on the issues that matter most to our communities.”

The new punishment is the latest development in the City of London Police’s approach to tackling dangerous and anti-social road use.

The force’s cycle response unit was relaunched in 2023 and provides a highly visible policing presence across the Square Mile. The team was established in part to tackle phone snatching, but also deals with drug offences, road traffic offences, illegal e-bikes and other crime.

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.”