Police seize 19 illegal e-scooters in Telford crackdown
The action follows numerous reports from the public about the vehicles being ridden dangerously
Police officers in Telford have seized 19 illegal e-scooters and one offroad bike in a crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
West Mercia Police said the action followed a number of reports from the public about e-scooters being ridden dangerously around Telford’s town centre and shopping centre.
On Monday evening (24 August) officers from Telford’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) seized six e-scooters, and then a further eight on Tuesday (25 August) as well as an offroad bike across the town centre.
Later in the week (Wednesday 26 August) Operation Spree took place across the borough, which targets people riding offroad motorbikes illegally.
During the operation five e-scooters were seized by officers.
West Mercia Police were supported by Staffordshire Police and Telford & Wrekin Council during the operation.
Sergeant Matt Corfield, from the SNT, said: "We have received a number of reports from members of the public about e-scooters being ridden dangerously in Telford town centre, causing concern for shoppers, visitors and local businesses.
"These seizures demonstrate our commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour and taking action against those who choose to use vehicles illegally or irresponsibly.
"Some of the e-scooters we recovered are capable of reaching significant speeds, which can pose a serious risk to both riders and pedestrians.
"We want to remind people that privately owned e-scooters cannot legally be used on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes or pedestrianised areas, and anyone found doing so risks having their vehicle seized by police.
"We will continue carrying out proactive operations across Telford and the wider borough to keep our communities safe, and we would encourage anyone with concerns about anti-social behaviour or illegal vehicle use to report it to us."
Telford & Wrekin Councillor Paul Davis, Cabinet Member for Strong Communities, Local Pride and Veterans, added: “We welcome the proactive work taking place to address concerns about the unsafe use of e-scooters in public spaces.
“Many residents are surprised to learn that privately owned e-scooters cannot currently be used in most public places, despite being widely available to buy.
“Raising awareness of the rules is an important part of helping people stay safe and avoid inadvertently breaking the law.
“We will continue to work with partners to support initiatives that help keep Telford and Wrekin's town centres, neighbourhoods and public spaces safe and enjoyable for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”
“I would also like to thank the police for their proactive work in addressing this issue and helping to keep our communities safe.”
While e-scooters are available to buy, they are currently illegal to use on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes and pedestrian-only areas unless they are part of an approved Government rental scheme.
There are currently no legal e-scooter rental schemes in Shropshire.