The number of fines being issued to pavement cyclists across west London has plummeted, new figures reveal.

Just 23 penalty notices for the offence were handed out in the area during the first nine months of 2015/16, compared with 698 during the whole of 2014/15 and 2,107 the previous year.

The figures were highlighted by London Assembly member Murad Qureshi , who demanded more action to tackle the small minority of law-breaking cyclists putting pedestrians at risk on our pavements.

"With more cyclists than ever on London's streets the number of fines issued to pavement hopping cyclists has nose-dived," said the Labour politician.

"This kind of thoughtless behaviour from an incredibly small minority of cyclists endangers pedestrians who have a right to feel safe on the footpaths in just the same way cyclists should on the roads.

"It can be incredibly scary for pedestrians to see a bike hurtling down a footpath towards them.

"Unless there are the police and PCSOs around, out on the beat enforcing these rules then the small minority of offenders will continue to break the rules."

How many fines have been issued where you live?

Borough Pavement cycling fines issued 2013/14 Pavement cycling fines issued 2014/15 Pavement cycling fines issued 2015/16 to December 16 % change 2013/14 to 2015/16 to December 16
Brent 31 10 0 -100
Ealing 18 10 2 -89
Hammersmith & Fulham 76 8 0 -100
Harrow 38 45 0 -100
Hillingdon 12 16 3 -75
Hounslow 124 46 0 -100
Kensington & Chelsea 595 74 4 -99
Westminster 1213 489 14 -99
Total 2107 698 23 -99

* statistics from Mayor's Question Time on December 16 2015

The biggest drop in fines was in Westminster , where 1,213 fines were doled out in 2013/14, compared with just 14 in the financial year to December 16, 2015.

In Kensington & Chelsea , the number of fines fell from 595 to just four during the same period.

Metropolitan Police 's Acting Chief Superindent Raj Kohli promised to crack down on pavement cycling in Hounslow last May after being appointed deputy borough commander.

But there is little evidence of a tougher approach from Mr Kohli, who has since been promoted to borough commander, or his officers.

Not a single fine was issued to cyclists illegally using Hounslow's pavements in the financial year to December 16, 2015 - compared with 124 during 2013/14.

The figures, which include fines issued for the offence of cycling where prohibited as well as pavement cycling, were published by London Mayor Boris Johnson in response to a question by London Assembly member John Biggs during Mayor's Question Time on December 16 last year. The numbers for 2015/16 were for the financial year to date.

London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith earlier this month called for a ban on "dangerous and unlicensed" rickshaws in the capital.