Riders of illegal electric bikes and scooters have been warned they will be seized and scrapped as part of a new crackdown on nuisance vehicles.
It comes after Leicestershire Police officers unveiled new powers to instantly seize non-conforming vehicles without issuing warnings first, marking an escalation in enforcement efforts.
The tougher approach has already shown results, with 28 illegal vehicles seized during an operation on Wednesday, January 22.
The seizures form part of Operation Pedalfast, Leicester Police’s dedicated response to tackling what they describe as a “persisting” issue in the city centre.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailingmotoring@gbnews.uk
Under UK law, e-bikes and e-scooters must meet certain requirements to operate in city centres
LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE
In a separate operation, Leicester Police stopped 57 e-bikes, with 29 riders found to be compliant with regulations and allowed to continue their journeys. However, officers seized 17 e-scooters and 11 e-bikes from people using them illegally in the citycentre.
Electric bikes must meet strict “electrically assisted pedal cycle” regulations to be considered legal on UK roads. These regulations require e-bikes to have motors under 250 watts that are only activated by pedalling, not by throttle.
All e-bikes must also display clear manufacturer information, including details about the battery, maximum speed and continuous rated power.
Any e-bike failing to meet these standards is classified as an electrically powered moped and must follow motorcycle laws, including having a number plate and a licensed rider. For e-scooters, the rules are even stricter – they can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission.
Sergeant Zane Tompkins from the city centre beat team said: “Listening to our community and taking action against the issues they raise is important. I hope that the seizing of these vehicles acts as a clear deterrent to anyone who rides illegally through our city.”
Meanwhile, a Leicestershire Police spokesperson confirmed that vehicles seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act will be scrapped. Officers are also working with food delivery companies, whose riders have been identified using these vehicles in the city centre.
City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby strongly welcomed the new approach to tackling illegal e-bikes and e-scooters in Leicester’s city centre.
He said: “We know that e-bike riders going dangerously fast on pedestrianised streets can have a significant impact on people’s enjoyment of the city centre.”
The Mayor acknowledged that while other cities face similar problems, it was “unacceptable that the behaviour of a few individuals should spoil the city centre for the rest of us”.
He recently announced plans to cover the city centre with a Public Spaces Protection Order and invest additional resources to address the “persistent nuisances”.
A December 2024 survey by the Midlands police force revealed widespread public concern about these vehicles in the city centre with 83 per cent having an issue with e-scooters and 76 per cent having concerns about e-bikes.
Prior to this escalation, the operation had issued 152 warnings and seized 13 vehicles, including eight e-scooters and five e-mopeds.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Police have the power to seize any illegal e-bikes operating within the city
LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE
The public response to the crackdown has been positive, with local residents reportedly “pleased” and “pleasantly surprised” by the enforcement action.
