Rise in e-bike seizures in Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Suffolk, and Thames Valley
UK Police forces address illegal e-bike use and crack down on dangerous models
Police forces in Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Suffolk, and Thames Valley have intensified efforts to combat illegal e-bike use, reporting a significant increase in seizures of these vehicles.
A Press Association investigation revealed an 83% rise in e-bike confiscations across the UK, totalling 7,049 in the 12 months leading to 19th May, compared to 3,858 the previous year.
Thames Valley Police alone seized 425 e-bikes, contributing to a nationwide call for stricter laws to manage these vehicles, often linked to crime and serious accidents.
Legal e-bikes, known as electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs), must adhere to regulations that limit the motor to 250 watts and speed to 15.5mph.
In contrast, illegal e-bikes, frequently modified to travel faster, qualify as electric mopeds or motorbikes requiring registration, taxation, and insurance.
Police have raised concerns about illegal e-bikes' involvement in street crimes such as phone theft and drug offences, as demonstrated in recent operations where South Wales Police arrested individuals connected to drug offences in Cardiff.
Sergeant Stuart Ford from City of London Police described illegal e-bikes as a “menace,” while politicians like Labour MP Julie Minns have advocated for bans on the sale of illegal models and conversion kits.
Commander Neerav Patel of the Metropolitan Police shared the public’s growing frustration over antisocial e-bike use, as the force implements portable devices to test speeds of suspected illegal e-bikes.
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 has strengthened police powers to seize these vehicles without prior warnings if used antisocially, addressing the rising concerns.
Charities like Living Streets and the Royal National Institute of Blind People have stressed the importance of pedestrian safety amid increased e-bike use, underlining the risk these vehicles pose when ridden carelessly.
E-bike crashes have contributed to several deaths and serious injuries in the UK including:
Jim Blackwood, 91, was struck by an e-bike on the pavement outside his home in Rochester, Kent, on 6th July 2023.
He was hospitalised, and his health declined, leading to his death on 13th October.
The e-bike rider, Clifford Cage, age 50, received a 15-month suspended sentence for manslaughter.
Additionally, a three-year-old boy in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, suffered head injuries in an e-bike hit-and-run on 12th June, prompting a police investigation into the rider's identity.