A dozen illegal e-bikes seized in Birmingham in new crackdown on dangerous menace
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We’ve taken a dozen more illegal e-bikes off the streets of Birmingham city centre as our work to make it a safer and more welcoming place for everyone continues.
Officers intercepted the riders and tested their bikes to see if they had been illegally modified, before seizing and crushing the machines that had been upgraded.
Thursday’s operation saw 12 of the bikes seized, along with an e-scooter which was being ridden illegally in the city centre, in just over two hours.
As the illegally modified bikes count as motorbikes, riders were issued tickets for offences including driving without a licence or insurance.
We’ve been taking a tough stance on the illegal machines since last year, when we began the operation in response to concerns raised by businesses and pedestrians.
For more advice and information on safe and legal use of electric bikes, visit our website: What you need to know: electric bikes | West Midlands Police
City centre officers were joined by colleagues from Operation Fearless, which works to drive down crime in the Southside area, along with staff from the Central Business Improvement District (BID).
Sgt Matthew King, from the Birmingham city centre policing team, said: “It was great to get so many bikes in such a short time, and the vehicles will now be crushed as they can’t be ridden legally anywhere in public.
“We’ve seen a reduction in the numbers of e-bikes since we started this operation last year, but there are still some people who’ve clearly not got the message.
“We will continue to act against those who put people at risk in the city centre. “Our work with partners is turning the city centre into a no go zone for illegal e-bikes now.”
Pete Ash, Central BID Operations Manager, said: “We had numerous comments from members of the public and local businesses saying how good it was to see everyone out on the streets, and how much safer it made them feel. “Over the last 12 months, we’ve noticed a reduction in these bikes operating in the area.
"We have a strong partnership now between ourselves, the police and the city council, and we’ll continue to support each other on operations in the future.”
E-bikes themselves aren’t illegal, but many have been dangerously modified to go far faster than they should.
They are often ridden on pavements or dumped in public spaces, creating a hazard for pedestrians.