Police motorbikes to tackle e-bikes and e-scooters
Cllr Leo Hammond, the deputy police and crime commissioner, has revealed that Humberside Police motorbike teams will now tackle anti-social issues caused by electric bikes and e-scooters.
The Wolds Weighton Ward councillor said the force recognised there is a problem with e-bikes/e-scooters and that the crime commissioner’s office is pressing for stronger laws to protect local communities.
Cllr Hammond said: “Jonathan Evison, police and crime commissioner for the Humberside area, and I met with the Motorcycle Industry Association to discuss what we and Humberside Police are doing to tackle the issues our communities face from e-bikes and e-scooters.
“We have purchased the police bikes to help tackle this and other anti-social behaviour.
“We know this is a major issue in some of our communities and we are working to push the Government for stronger legislation to bring in licenses for the purchase and use of this equipment which should prevent the misuse of this equipment.
“The police do confiscate and destroy these. However, at the moment as there is no licensing of either, people can just go buy new ones, this is wrong and needs to change.
“It’s great to hear the MCIA are pushing for this too – hopefully the Government listens and takes action.”
Mr Hammond added: “As part of our most recent PCC Crime Survey, where we ask the public what their priorities for tackling crime are annually, road safety came out as the top concern of residents, particularly in relation to dangerous driving and the use of e-scooters.
“We have regularly pushed the police to take action against e-scooters (which are illegal on the public highway) and enhanced (by the rider to remove speed limiter) electric bikes which are also illegal (non-enhanced are legal). They now regularly confiscate and destroy these and are very keen for the public to share intelligence on areas of concern so they can proactively patrol.
“We’ve purchased bikes for the force to be used as part of Operation Yellowfin – originally these were for ASB, but now can be used to tackle this issue too.
“The force, on the back of the PCC’s lobbying, also has a new drone offering with 16 drones and 21 pilots. This includes drones for neighbourhood policing teams who will be able to use them to track and tackle people on these vehicles.”