More illegal e-bikes seized as Birmingham crackdown continues

Birmingham city centre officers have seized more e-bikes as they continue to target those using illegally modified machines which are dangerous to the public.

We know this has been a concern for those in the city centre and we’re working hard to make it the safest and most-welcoming place it can be.

E-bikes themselves aren’t illegal, but many have been dangerously modified to go far faster than they should.

Officers have been intercepting riders and testing their bikes to see if they had been illegally modified, and if a machine was found to have been upgraded – it was seized and taken to be crushed.

During May, 19 dangerous e-bikes were taken from the city-centre, one of which had been modified to reach speeds of more than 60 mph.

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.

In one instance, during the busy weekend of Birmingham Pride, a rider failed to stop for our officers after being spotted riding at speeds of more than 26mph weaving around pedestrians.

Unfortunately for him he wasn’t quick enough for our officers who detained him, and he was later dealt with for driving without insurance or a licence and failing to stop.

Birmingham city centre Sgt Matthew King said: “Our mission is clear: we’re making Birmingham a no-go zone for illegal e-bikes.

“The speed some of these machines can reach is shocking, and the danger they pose to the public shouldn’t be underestimated.

“We’ve seen a reduction in the number of illegal e-bikes in the city centre, but we’re not letting up in these operations to target them.”