Do not buy illegal e-scooters or e-bikes for Christmas, says Thames Valley Police
Anyone caught breaking the law could see it being seized and crushed
Thames Valley Police is urging parents to think twice before buying their children e-bikes or e-scooters this Christmas.
It's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, meaning it’s illegal to use them in public.
The force is warning that anyone caught breaking the law could see it being seized and crushed.
Detective Chief Inspector Justin Thomas from the Roads Policing Unit said: “If they are on the road, we will stop you and seize that vehicle and you will not get it back. It will be crushed”
“They are not cheap to purchase. So, my advice is for all parents out there, please, I urge you, do not buy e-bikes, e-scooters for your children this Christmas.”
DCI Thomas added: “I've got children myself, I get the same questions, ‘when can I get an e-bike?’, the answer is absolutely no.
“When I say e-bikes, these are the ones with the twist and go throttles. They are not pedal assisted push bikes which has an electric motor that assists you. These are the bikes that you will see on the road whizzing around at speed with no lights and no helmets.
“Quite often individuals will be wearing balaclavas because they know themselves, they shouldn't be on the roads.”
“Only in 2023, one of our officers was run down by an e-bike that was evading police at the time, and that officer suffered life-changing injuries.
“We need to take them off the road”, he said.