Police to crush illegal e-bikes and scooters

Cumbria Police is targeting the illegal use of e-bikes and scooters as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour (picture shows a similar operation by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary)

A police force targeting the illegal use of e-bikes and scooters has warned riders that those which fall foul of the law will be confiscated and crushed.

Cumbria Police said its 15-week long operation would focus on electric scooters and bikes, anti-social behaviour and drug dealing.

Electrically assisted pedal cycles are legal to ride as long as they do not travel beyond 15.5mph (25km/h) while in powered mode.

Cumbria's Police Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen said he received reports about the misuse of electric scooters and e-bikes "on a regular basis".

He said the operation would also focus on anti-social driving, adding: "I know from doing my survey last year it is literally the second most reported thing after anti-social behaviour."

On Thursday he heard residents' concerns in the Morton area of Carlisle and said: "I've come across a few residents and spoken to a lot of people whose main concerns were, no surprises: e-scooters, certainly use on pavements and drug dealing in the local area."

It is only legal to ride an e-scooter on private land or in a city that is part of a regulated scheme, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mr Allen warned riders to "look out, drive properly, make sure your e-bike's legal" otherwise it "would be taken off you and it will be crushed".

Insp Andy Leather said anti-social behaviour had reduced but officers "were not complacent".