Policeman’s leg broken by e-scooter rider

A POLICE officer suffered a broken leg when an e-scooter rider crashed into him during an official blitz against the illegal vehicles yesterday.

The 22-year-old rider was arrested after colliding with the officer in Willesden, North London, at around 1pm. He had been ordered to stop during an operation to get the vehicles off the streets, but police say he failed to do so.

The officer was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital where he was treated for his broken leg and concussion. The rider was arrested on suspicion of a litany of offences: grievous bodily harm, assault on an emergency worker, obstructing a drugs search, failure to stop, dangerous driving, driving without a licence or insurance, breaching the terms of a prison sentence and being unlawfully at large.

Inspector Martin Robbie, of London’s North West Basic Command Unit, said: ‘Officers put themselves in the face of danger on a daily basis and an incident like this demonstrates this.

‘I would like to remind the public that the use of e-scooters, unless subject to a Government-approved scheme, is prohibited and use upon public highways and spaces will be subject to enforcement and potential seizure of the e-scooter.’

Simon Ovens, from the Metropolitan Police’s road and transport policing command, has previously warned that the vehicles are ‘absolute death traps’.

He also said officers have seized around 800 e-scooters this year alone – around four a day. Tory peer Lord Blencathra, a former Home Office Minister, has also slammed the vehicles, branding them ‘silent killing machines’.

Crimes involving e-scooters have also risen in the UK as thugs use them as getaway vehicles.

Scotland Yard recorded more than 200 incidents in London last year.

Nevertheless, the Government fast-tracked their legalisation in 32 trial areas across the UK.

In 2019, TV presenter and YouTube star Emily Hartridge was the first person the UK to die in an e-scooter crash.

The 35-year-old was killed instantly when she lost control of the vehicle due to a flat tyre and was thrown under a lorry in Battersea, South London.

In May this year, a three-year-old boy was seriously injured after being hit by an e-scooter while walking with his grandmother in London.

And last month, a three-year-old girl was left with life-changing injuries after being hit by a man riding an e-scooter in South London.