Police in Nottingham have seized 60 bikes and e-scooters as part of a crackdown on illegal two-wheeled vehicles following public complaints. The operation targeted machines being ridden through pedestrian areas, leading to the prosecution of 38 individuals. Some offenders have been fined up to £1,000 and received eight points on their driving licenses.
Legally, electric bikes are restricted to a maximum speed of 15.5 mph and a motor power of 250W. Non-compliant models are classified as motor vehicles, necessitating insurance, taxation, and a valid license. Officers are employing a compact dynamometer to test the top speeds of e-bikes to identify and seize non-compliant models.
During recent testing, less than a quarter of the e-bikes examined were found to be legally compliant. One seized e-bike was capable of reaching 72 mph. Police are urging consumers to ensure their e-bikes and e-scooters comply with the law. "A vehicle like that, when ridden recklessly on our roads, could have seriously injured or even killed someone," said PC Ben King of Operation Wrangel.
The operation, which began in November, is focusing on illegal e-bikes, identified by the public as a significant nuisance. Police are collaborating with engineering experts from Nottingham Trent University to address e-bike safety and development, including methods to prevent illegal modifications.
These seizures come as figures indicate that payouts for damages to individuals injured by e-scooters and e-bikes have surpassed £110 million since the first claim was made seven years ago. The Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB), a non-profit organization that compensates victims of accidents involving uninsured vehicles, reported that the largest single payout was £20 million for catastrophic, life-changing injuries sustained by a child. These claims are also contributing to increased insurance premiums for the general public.
The MIB advocates for stricter regulation, and in some cases, bans on the sale of such vehicles. The first MIB claim related to an e-scooter incident occurred in 2019, with the first for an e-bike in 2020. In 2025, there were 168 claims for accidents involving both types of vehicles, the highest number recorded to date. More than half of these claims were from pedestrians, according to Hayley Sutcliffe of the MIB.
A notable case involved Billy Stokoe, 19, who was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for causing the death of 86-year-old Gloria Stephenson. Stokoe hit Ms. Stephenson with his e-bike in Sunderland in July 2025 while using a mobile phone and under the influence of cannabis. He was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, and his sentence is currently under review for being unduly lenient.