MET SEIZE 2.500 ILLEGAL E-BIKES AND E-SCOOTERS

The record-breaking figures highlight the success of the Met’s ongoing crackdown on the illegal modification and dangerous use of two-wheelers, helping to improve road safety and cut crime across London.

The Met is also one of the first police forces in the country to deploy new technology, such as ‘rolling roads’, enabling officers to test the speed of suspected modified bikes at the roadside and quickly determine whether they comply with legal requirements.

Last year, officers removed more than 2,200 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters from London’s roads.

This year’s seizures bring the total to more than 4,750 since January 2025.

Commander Neerav Patel, who leads the Met’s crackdown on e-bikes, said: “We are continuing to come down hard on those who use illegally modified e-bikes, whether to drive dangerously or to commit crimes such as phone snatching and drug dealing.

“By combining the use of new technology like ‘rolling roads’ with an intelligence-led approach to precisely target hotspot areas, we have cleared thousands of two-wheelers from our streets and crushed them.

“What we are doing is clearly working. Phone theft in the West End, increasingly perpetrated by thieves riding illegal e-bikes, has nearly halved.

“We’ll continue to do everything we can to make London an even safer city for everyone to enjoy.”

On Friday, 24 July, officers set up a stop-site in Camden where they deployed ‘rolling roads’ to test suspected modified e-bikes and e-scooters. 36 vehicles were seized, with 2 arrests made.

The Met continues to drive down local crime. Newly released figures show neighbourhood offences are down by 14 per cent in the 12 months to June, compared with the previous year – the equivalent of 35,000 fewer reported offences.

This includes reductions in theft from person (-23 per cent) and personal robbery (-11 per cent). Illegal e-bikes and mopeds are frequently used by offenders to commit these crimes.

In Westminster – one of London’s major tourist hubs – neighbourhood crime has fallen by 36 per cent over the same period – the equivalent of nearly 14,000 fewer offences.

In March, officers seized 52 e-bikes and mopeds during a two-day operation in the West End and Harlesden, as well arresting a man in possession of a combat knife.

Phone thieves are increasingly using high-powered e-bikes to snatch phones and evade police, often riding dangerously through busy areas.

In June, the Met launched a ten-day crackdown on phone theft across London. Hundreds of arrests were made, including those of known, prolific and violent thieves.

The operation forms part of the Met’s largest ever crackdown on phone theft which has resulted in 13,000 fewer offences across London during the last financial year.

Tackling two-wheel enabled crime remains a priority, with plans in place to expand the Met’s fleet of high-powered e-bikes to pursue offenders more effectively.