Police target illegal e-scooter and e-bike use

A police plane has been used for the first time by a force to help arrest eight people in a crackdown on e-bikes and e-scooters being used by suspected criminals.

Northamptonshire Police said five days of action took place in March, when 140 of the vehicles were seized.

The force said it also stopped disqualified drivers, people suspected of drug-driving, some in possession of cannabis, and one stolen vehicle was recovered.

The operation focused on anti-social behaviour associated with the vehicles as well as "reports of serious crime including possession of knives and domestic abuse", it added.

The force said the operation was led by its Safer Roads Team assisted by the National Police Air Service in response to public complaints about these vehicles being ridden in an anti-social manner.

Ch Insp Johnny Davis-Lyons said: "Crime associated with e-bikes and e-scooters is an issue often raised not only to our neighbourhood policing teams but also to our Chief Constable, and it's important that communities can see that their voices are being heard."

He said the operation demonstrated "how seriously we take those concerns as well as our commitment to keeping Northampton's streets safe for everyone".

"This operation not only focused on the anti-social behaviour associated with these vehicles but also reports of serious crime including possession of knives and domestic abuse.

"To have the plane in the sky made tracking these individuals so much easier and contributed to the large number of seizures we made over the five days."

The force said it led to two 15-year-olds being referred to the Youth Offending Scheme, one man was given a suspended sentence for dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and other driving offences.

One man was charged with dangerous driving, driving otherwise in accordance with a licence and with no insurance and is due at Northampton Magistrates' Court on 4 June.

Another man, 54, was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison after being found guilty of driving whilst disqualified, with no insurance and failing to stop.

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