Corby operation targets illegal e-scooter and e-bike use

A day of action which took place on Saturday (June 13) as part of an operation to target illegal e-scooter and e-bike use saw 29 vehicles seized.

As part of Operation Tides, officers from the Safer Roads Team, Roads Policing Team and the local Neighbourhood Policing Team took to the streets of Corby with one aim - to make the town safer by tackling people riding e-scooters and e-bikes illegally.

Supported by the National Police Air Service’s plane, the team spent six hours stopping illegal riders with 29 vehicles seized in total. The last hour was spent in Desborough and Kettering.

Of those, 23 were e-scooters and two were e-bikes. Three motorcycles were also stopped and seized for being ridden with no insurance or invalid licences, along with one car after it was found to have no insurance.

One motorcyclist, who was riding two-up, attempted to evade police and approved tactics had to be used to bring it to a safe stop. The rider had no licence, no insurance and no MOT, and was also shown as wanted in connection with an alleged incident of harassment.

A teenager riding two-up on an e-bike was also detained after she attempted to make off. Her mum was called and was very supportive of police action.

Another motorcyclist not only had no insurance and no licence but he also failed a roadside breath test and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

Almost half of the e-scooters and e-bikes that police officers tried to engage with tried to get away.

Chief Inspector Nathan Shepherd said: “This operation continues to send a clear message that the illegal use of e-scooters and e-bikes will not be tolerated.

“We’ve had consistent concerns raised by members of the community about the way these vehicles are being used - including reports of anti-social behaviour, dangerous riding, and near-miss incidents involving pedestrians and other road users.

“We want people to feel safe when they are out and about in our towns and responding to those concerns is a priority for us. Days of action like this are about listening to our communities and taking robust, visible enforcement where it’s needed most.

“These vehicles may seem convenient, but when they are used illegally or irresponsibly they can pose a very real risk. We will continue to carry out proactive operations across the area, working with our partners to educate riders, prevent harm, and take action against those who choose to ignore the law.”

 Rules around e-bikes and e-scooters  

E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to e-scooters, including the need to have a licence and insurance. 

There are two ways of using an e-scooter: 

• by privately owning one
• by renting one through an authorised rental scheme 

It's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters which means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres. If you use a privately-owned e-scooter in public, you risk the vehicle being seized under S.165 Road Traffic Act 1988 for having no insurance.  

You can rent e-scooters via e-scooter company Voi in Northamptonshire but only if you are aged 18+ and hold a valid full or provisional driving licence. 

In the UK, you must be at least 14 years old to legally ride an e-bike. The e-bike must have a maximum motor power of 250W and a top assisted speed of 15.5 mph.