Illegal e-bikes seized in crackdown operation in Plymouth
Police have seized a number of illegal e-bikes in Plymouth in a bid to keep the roads safer and address public concerns
Police have seized a number of illegal e-bikes in Plymouth in a bid to keep the roads safer and address public concerns.
Officers from the Plymouth Neighbourhood Support Team working with the Roads Policing Unit, the Police Drone team, Child Centred Policing Team and Specials targeted illegally modified e-bikes in the city in what's been described as a 'proactive multi-agency operation'.
As a result of the operation, 14 e-bikes and a moped were seized.
A man from the Plymouth area was arrested on suspicion of driving while disqualified and a woman was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. Both were taken into police custody.
Inspector Greg Bridgett, who heads up the city centre Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “This operation is in response to concerns by the local community and incidents reported to us around the illegal use of e-bikes and public safety.
“Police and the city council welcome considerate cyclists, but we want to get these dangerous bikes off the roads and this will be an ongoing priority for police teams in Plymouth. We don’t want to risk anyone being injured by one of these bikes and riders have been warned that we will take action.
“Following an operation earlier this month we have noticed that there are fewer fast e-bikes on the local streets so the message is getting out there and we want riders to take heed of our operations.”
Devon & Cornwall Police has already seized hundreds of e-bikes and e-scooters which have been illegally modified, ridden without insurance, involved in a serious collision or used in crime.
In a recent operation earlier this month in the Mutley Plain area of Plymouth, 29 illegal bikes were seized by police in one day. Owners are allowed 14 days to challenge the police action and after that any seized bikes will be disposed of.