Don't waste your money on an e-scooter this Christmas - Dorset Police
The force is clamping down on their illegal use
Dorset's police and crime commissioner has criticised "irresponsible" retailers who sell e-scooters, accusing them of misleading the public.
The force is urging people not to waste their money on buying the devices as presents this Christmas because they are illegal to ride on the roads.
David Sidwick said: "People think they can buy and ride an e-scooter - quite simply - they can’t.
"Privately-owned e-scooters are illegal to ride on the roads, yet there is confusion over the use of e-scooters probably because we see them being used illegally on the streets and people assume that they can just buy one and use it.
"I take issue with the irresponsible retailers who sell these items, they are quite simply misleading the public.
"You cannot buy and use an e-scooter on any public land and that includes roads, pavements, pathways, or walkways – so unless you personally own great swathes of land in Dorset you simply cannot ride these machines legally.
"My advice this Christmas is don’t buy an e-scooter unless you want it to be seized by the Police - it’s as simple as that."