POLICE are failing to crack down on cycling foreign students who cause havoc on the streets, say language school bosses.

School chiefs in Bournemouth and Poole are now urging police to fine students caught riding without lights, cutting up traffic or cycling in pedestrianised areas.

The call comes three months after parents of a 20-year-old South Korean student, who was killed in a collision with a bus while not wearing a helmet or displaying lights, urged other foreign students to learn from her death.

And last month an 85-year-old woman was knocked to the ground by a cyclist in Old Christchurch Road.

The school bosses say existing measures such as showing videos explaining Britain's traffic laws are failing because they are simply ignored by the students.

At the meeting of the Poole and Bournemouth Language Schools Liaison Panel, it was also revealed that new students are already given handouts about riding safely, and road safety officials regularly visit schools to give presentations about the issue.

Mike Francis, vice-chairman of the International Education Forum, said: "Police aren't doing anything and won't do anything. They say they haven't got enough officers. But unless police fine the students and take their bikes away, nothing will work."

Anthony Potter, of the Fast Track School of English, said: "We do all we can to inform students but they continue to cycle on pavements and without lights. They have no regard for the Highway Code. It's like talking to a brick wall.

"But if police actually started fining people word would go round like wildfire and the students would get the message."

Language student Yunjin Kim died after a collision with a bus on August 11. Her family, speaking through her friend Jinsu Lee, said they hoped her death would not be in vain.

"Unfortunately, Yunjin was not wearing a safety helmet or using lights at the time of the accident," said Mr Lee, adding that the police said a helmet would have saved her life."

A police spokesman said: "We realise it's a problem and officers do react when they come across a problem while on foot patrol.

"We are increasing our foot patrols across the county. But when fining students and they refuse to pay, it's impossible to take the matter through the courts because they have left the country."

This week, The Daily Echo will be running a series of articles on bike safety.

First published: November 7