Sheffield cycling: Police 'out in force' seizing illegal e-bikes in city centre
Motorcycle cops were “out in force” seizing 12 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters that “pose a risk to public safety” in Sheffield city centre.
Officers in the Motorcycle and Rural Crime Team seized nine e-bikes and three e-scooters on Wednesday, November 12.
It was the latest operation to tackle illegal electric bikes and prosecute unregistered and uninsured riders, police said.
In total, the force says it has now seized 205 e-bikes and electric scooters in Sheffield city centre since the start of June 2024.
Senior councillor Ben Miskell, who leads on regeneration and transport in the city, praised the police for turning “out in force.”
He also is issued a warning: “If you bring an illegal bike into our city centre, be warned — you won’t be leaving with it, and you’ll face the full force of the law.”
He added: “The message is clear to anyone riding illegal electric bikes. South Yorkshire Police will seize your bike, you may receive a hefty fine, and you could get penalty points on your current or future driving licence.
“People in Sheffield are sick of this, these bikes are ridden at high speeds, they’re unsafe, and it’s absolutely right that the police are prioritising action.”
In June, The Star published footage of an e-bike rider weaving through shoppers and pulling wheelies at 30mph on Fargate.
The police operation on Wednesday also involved the UK Border Agency officers and Sheffield City Council ambassadors.
Five stop and searches were carried out and eight breaches of the Public Spaces Protection Order were identified, police say.
One person was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting while another was recalled to prison.
Sergeant Simon Pickering, of the city centre neighbourhood policing team, said the aim was to stamp out illegal electric vehicles in the city centre.
He added: “We have listened to the people who live, work and regularly visit our area and know that this is of real concern to them. That's why we've been working extremely hard to identify people putting others at risk by riding these illegal vehicles.”
Police have previously set out the law on e-bikes and e-scooters amid soaring popularity and fatal crashes.
In the run up to Christmas the force says people need to know the difference between the two types of e-bike - one of which is illegal without a licence and a crash helmet - and the fact e-scooters can only be ridden on private land and are illegal on pavements and roads.