Hampshire Police crush illegal e-scooters & e-bikes
Some are often modified illegally and can get up to speeds of 60mph
Last updated 21st Jan 2025
Vehicles being used by gangs across the south are being crushed by police in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour.
More than 100 vehicles have been destroyed by police in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in the first year of the force’s crackdown on the illegal use of e-scooters and e-motorbikes.
The force said there had been a rise in the vehicles being used to commit serious crimes and have described them as a "blight" on communities.
Police Sergeant Jamie Dobson, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “By using these enhanced powers to destroy these vehicles after seizing them, we are stopping these criminals from going straight back out and committing the same offences multiple times.
“It is a significant new weapon in our armoury to help us combat the rise in these vehicles being used in criminality and anti-social behaviour.
“The campaign was launched to crackdown on the illegal use of these vehicles, which had become increasingly popular with those committing a variety of different crimes, including those involved in drugs gangs.
“A particular focus for our officers is the use of e-motorbikes and off road ‘scramblers’ which are often being used for nothing other than dangerous road use, anti-social behaviour and serious criminality. They are almost always owned by the people riding them and when we seize and destroy them they are thousands of pounds worse off.
“This tougher stance is helping us keep our roads safer, as the vehicles are often used dangerously, potentially putting lives at risk.”
Police and Crime Commisioner Donna Jones added: “Since being elected as the Police Commissioner in 2021, the public have consistently told me they want the police to do more to crack down on e-scooters.
"Too often we see people on privately owned e-scooters riding dangerously on roads and pavements breaking the law. I have seen a number of dangerous collisions, particularly on pavements, which have resulted in people suffering significant injuries, some of them life changing.
“Whilst many people use e-scooters as environmentally friendly travel, residents and road users have a right to be concerned about the dangers of privately owned e-scooters which are illegal to ride on the road and are often being used to commit crime.
“My message is absolutely clear - if you choose to operate an e-scooter illegally you will face the consequences and to the criminals and drug gangs using them, they will be seized and destroyed.”