Record seizure of private e-scooters

E-SCOOTERS are being seized by London police in record numbers, amid a major crackdown in the capital.

Just 53 privately-owned e-scooters, which remain illegal on public roads, were confiscated in London in 2019. That rose to 284 in 2020. Between January and the end of October this year, 3,637 e-scooters were seized by the Met police in the capital.

It represents a huge escalation of police efforts against private e-scooters, after Transport for London and London Councils launched a trial of rental e-scooters in the capital in June 2021.

A total of 1,103 e-scooters were seized by the Met this June alone, compared to just two in June last year. The figures appear to have fallen off in October to 262 confiscations.

Nine boroughs plus the City of London now allow users to hire e-scooters from three companies, including Lime.

However, all personal e-scooters remain banned – and police are using their powers to confiscate them in record numbers.

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly member, said: “The Met rightly stepped up enforcement activity against private e-scooters being illegally ridden on pavements and roads this year, especially at the time of the start of the regulated and legal rental trials.

“However, it is disappointing that after a short enforcement blitz back in June the level of police enforcement has fallen away.

“In the run-up to Christmas the police should resume higher levels of enforcement against private e-scooters. The message should be clear that the riding of privately owned e-scooters on pavements and public roads remains an offence.”