Forum Topic

The Met  -v-  Illegal E-Bikes

https://news.met.police.uk/pressreleases/met-seizes-dozens-of-illegal-e-bikes-in-continued-crackdown-3435532Where are they coming from?  Perhaps there should be stronger regulations about bringing them into the country/putting them on the streets and pavements instead of having to play catch up because they have not been registered and licensed as the motorbikes that they are.

Philippa Bond ● 12d40 Comments

‘.. it's not illegal to import or buy them..’Then it clearly should be, as it makes no sense to let people buy these potentially dangerous things when riding them in most public places is illegal.  Importers and vendors must know that very few purchasers will be spending their time riding round their private estate! This makes the law a laugh, and the police have to waste their time trying to clear these machines from our streets when they shouldn’t be allowed to get that far.

Peter Evans ● 3d

I'm sure people living and working on private estates use them but I bet that's not where the majority that are a problem are being used with permission.

Philippa Bond ● 3d

>Time for some serious enforcement to stop these machines coming in at sourceThere's currently nothing to enforce, it's not illegal to import or buy them. It's just illegal to ride them on the highway, but you can ride them round on private land all day and night.

Paul James ● 3d

I'm sure the adverts for many e-bikes, conversion kits and e-scooters have some small print about how illegal and dangerous they are and how they shouldn't be driven on the roads or kept in your front room, but that doesn't seem to stop people buying them, and it certainly doesn't seem to stop  people selling them.Time for some serious enforcement to stop these machines coming in at source.

Peter Evans ● 3d

>Nothing is being done.This is untrue. I've seen police confiscating these things myself.

Paul James ● 4d

So you are suggesting that the work that the Met has done with details of the events documented above in the Press Release did not happen?Wouldn't it also be good to see that the fast E-Bikes which are illegal on the roads and pavements here in the UK either not sold/sales restricted here but also that those companies that sell them should have to by law be explicit on their websites advertising them as to the legality of their use on our roads when people search for them online or buy them.  They need to be registered and taxed as Motorcycles.

Philippa Bond ● 4d

Deterrent being the key word, Philippa.Nothing is being done. Nothing deterred.If people witnessed at least an attempt, it would turn the tide.Again, not rocket science.

David Lesniak ● 5d

So when they prove that they are doing their job there is still controversy!  Read the Press Release - it isn't just chasing them waving batons Allan Ahlberg style.  The punishment has to be something that is known about and is something that deters others from doing the same thing and hopefully without death and injury and the need to involve other services.

Philippa Bond ● 5d

Couldn’t agree more.  Paul just seems to be fixated on making excuses for our Police Service instead of expecting them to do their jobs.

Steve Taylor ● 5d

If I were you, Paul, I'd have that myopia checked.No e-bikes then. Point being arm the police with the same vehicles they're chasing.Job done.This discussion is absurd. Truly. It isn't rocket science to equip the Met with what's needed to get the job done.

David Lesniak ● 6d

That thought occured to me after I posted. eBikes would be useless ( and dangerous to those riding them and maybe others) if used to chase e-bikes that had been modded to become electric motorbikes.

Andrew Jones ● 7d

From the Met Press Release I gather it isn't just a matter of police running after them waving their batons or racing them causing even more danger to everyone else not involved. 

Philippa Bond ● 7d

What are we chasing here? People on ebikes which top out at 15.5mph, or illegally modified electric motorbikes which can get up to 30/40/50?

Paul James ● 7d

In the same way that Police vehicles are permitted to exceed the speed limit, go through red lights etc. when on an active call and when it's warranted, perhaps e-bikes ridden by Police could have the ability of have their speed limit overidden when chasing someone so the bike would top out at say 17 or 18 mph?Not sure how you'd affect a stop mind you, but you could at least catch up and overtake a legal e-bike, and the majority of self powered cyclists.

Andrew Jones ● 7d

Meantime, here's the actual advice to officers..."Any Police Officer can stop an E-Bike should they believe it is safe to do so. This is covered in the pedal cycle construction and use regulations which allow any Police Officer in uniform to stop a pedal cycle as an extension of their S163 Road Traffic Act powers. However, it is possible that the device you have described is an electric motorcycle rather than an E-Bike. In order to pursue motorcycles Police Officers are required to be appropriately trained response and TPAC (Tactical Pursuit & Containment driver) drivers. Additionally, this pursuit would then be monitored and controlled by METCC (Met Command & Control – who provide London with its police response service, handling emergency and non-emergency phone calls), providing tactical advice and ensuring the risk management of those involved and that of the wider public. This requirement is set out to a national standard by the College of Policing."https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/metropolitan-police/disclosure-2025/january-2025/policies-training-stopping-e-bikes/

Paul James ● 7d

>E-bikes for the Met? How hard could it be? Surely tactical maneuvers exist for one e-bike user to overtake another.We're not talking about e-bikes here, but electric motor bikes/illegally modified e-bikes, i.e. electric motorbikes.A reminder that legal e-bikes cut out at 15.5mph.legal e-bikes by definition can't overtake one another as they top out at 15.5mph... you might be able to push them a but faster, or go faster down hill, but along the flat, e-bikes are sort of limited to the same speed, which is why they have afood chain number of six for silly commuter racing.

Paul James ● 7d

Seems to me all that is needed, Paul, is the right tool for the job.E-bikes for the Met? How hard could it be? Surely tactical maneuvers exist for one e-bike user to overtake another.Agree with Steve. Lame that nothing more significant is being done.

David Lesniak ● 7d

The 'Cycling Snowfake' forgets that cars(with registration plates) have easily identifiable owners and can be intercepted by police cars in necessary.Anonymous cycles(who do not have registration plates) are much more difficult to intercept as they are anonymous and can get away with law breaking as there are so few bobbies on the beat nowadays.

Keith Iddon ● 7d

“ not as simple as an officer walking up to somebody in/on a motor vehicle and asking them to stop.”Yes it is. It’s their job!!  They’re paid to uphold the law. And no, they aren’t expected to ‘ask’ the criminals to stop - they need to be arrested and charged and the vehicle confiscated.

Steve Taylor ● 7d

>Your excuses for abiding with miscreant law breakers is pathetic.I'm  not exusing it, I'd pay for tickets to watch the crusher crushing illegal vehicles, but just to point out it's not as simple as an officer walking up to somebody in/on a motor vehicle and asking them to stop.

Paul James ● 7d

Steve hasn't read the Met Police's report on their actions.It would be even better if thosecthat are illegal weren't imported and sold here and interesting to know how many are ones that have been souped up.Is there enough advertising with the warning of what is legal and what is illegal or are they just relying these sting operations and the crushing of bikes to inform and deter the use of these together with prosecutions for creating bikes that are illegal?

Philippa Bond ● 7d

“ and needs careful planning and readiness.”So what!  It’s their job so - plan it and do it!  It’s why they’re paid. Your excuses for abiding with miscreant law breakers is pathetic.

Steve Taylor ● 7d

>t to be too scared to confront the lawbreakers. For Heavens sake. You really are a snowflake aren’t you!  Is this what UK Law and Order has come to?Putting words in my mouth. I didn't say they were scared, I very much doubt it, so that's coming from you, nice to know what you think of out police.I suggested stopping people in or on motor vehicles is not as simple as some might think and needs careful planning and readiness.

Paul James ● 7d

“ There's plenty of this online.”So what! It’s their job. It’s what they signed up for. It’s what police around the world do. It’s what they get paid for. To uphold the law - not to be too scared to confront the lawbreakers. For Heavens sake. You really are a snowflake aren’t you!  Is this what UK Law and Order has come to?

Steve Taylor ● 7d

(for balance, I looked for police officer injured by bicyclist but couldn't find anything, motor vehicles appear to be the common denominator here, I did find a story about two police officers sanctioned for _running over a cyclist_ after they *threw some litter*, bloody cyclists)

Paul James ● 7d

There's plenty of this online.Just to point out it's not a simple case of walking up to somebody in or on a motor vehicle and asking them to stop."Police officer suffers broken leg after being hit by e-scooter in north west London"https://news.sky.com/story/police-officer-suffers-broken-leg-after-being-hit-by-e-scooter-in-north-west-london-12369394"Met Police officer seriously injured after driver mounts pavement as London manhunt launched"https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/met-police-officer-seriously-injured-33427118"Hunt launched for Doncaster e-bike riders who knocked down police officer"https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/hunt-launched-for-doncaster-e-bike-riders-who-knocked-down-police-officer/ar-AA1XOGsi

Paul James ● 7d

LOL!

Keith Iddon ● 7d

Armchair warriers do seem to forget that simply asking somebody to stop who's on or in any motor vehicle can be an extremly risky thing to do given the person autoamtically has a potentially lethal weapon on them.

Paul James ● 7d

The Met v Illegal E bikes? My money's on the bikes.

Keith Iddon ● 7d

Oh what rubbish you spew out!

Steve Taylor ● 8d

Brits don't usually send out for "an English" and you can't tell the nationality of riders in helmets and riding gear so you are just making assumptions.

Philippa Bond ● 8d

“you would see all those others on the roads and pavements lacking in cycling skills and knowledge of the Highway Code and UK law.”That’s exactly my point. The people I see ignoring the Highway Code as (soon as they are on two wheels) are in the main 30 to 40 year old Lycra clad white males.  Donning the Lycra seems to bring out the arrogance and entitlement to break the law. The people I see riding on pavements or swerving amongst traffic on e-bikes or mopeds with L plates are usually fast food delivery drivers, normally Middle Eastern or Asian, with no respect for our Laws and a dogged determination to promote their third world values and lawlessness in our towns and cities.

Steve Taylor ● 9d

If you weren't so fixated on one particular group you would see all those others on the roads and pavements lacking in cycling skills and knowledge of the Highway Code and UK law.The Councils offer free cycling instruction and today I saw people with bikes queuing up to get them checked over in Acton.

Philippa Bond ● 9d

“ Boundaries are often just seen as something to be challenged.”Yep, and UK Boundaries are being challenged every day by illegal immigrants who then challenge our Highway Code to the limit.

Steve Taylor ● 11d

No Steve, not that simple at all.Anybody can ride these bikes if and when they are available.  How many children watch/are allowed to watch/are encouraged to watch videos that are rated above their age - or do anything else underage? Boundaries are often just seen as something to be challenged. Sometimes no harm comes from this or seems to come from this and it is no problem sometimes good, but sometimes bad.I've seen teenagers with pillion passengers on these riding along pavements and cutting through parks weaving fast in, out and around and  through park users of all ages and then disappearing  off along canal and river towpaths.

Philippa Bond ● 11d

Illegal immigrants ride illegal e-bikes. Simple solution.

Steve Taylor ● 11d

Yes, I saw one today which was being loaded with what looked like take-away food and wondered about exactly that.

Philippa Bond ● 11d

I recall an aquaintance of mine got caught in a police trap and they said his car wasn't fit to be used on the road and they said he couldn't drive it home.He was there with about 10 other drivers and three pick up trucks that had come to get them were also found to be illegal. He said several companies he called to come get his car even just point blank refused when he told them why he was asking.Priorities.

Paul James ● 11d

>Perhaps there should be stronger regulations about bringing them into the country/putting them on the streets and pavementsThis is happening, slowly.As usual main culprits are companies not checking the people they are "employing" are complying with the law.https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jun/16/take-urgent-action-to-slow-sales-of-and-dangerous-ebikes-says-group-of-mps-and-peers

Paul James ● 11d

52 captured in 2 days is pathetic!If they set up in Hounslow Borough they’d catch hundreds!

Steve Taylor ● 12d