Crackdown on illegal use of e-scooters launched across the city

We’re launching a crackdown on the illegal use of e-scooters across Stoke-on-Trent.

From this week, local officers are going to be visiting schools, shops and community hubs to engage with people about the dangers of e-scooters and the law around using them in public.

The following phase will involve officers working proactively as part of their usual patrols to seize any e-scooters that are being used illegally across the city. We’ll then look to educate those involved further, not prosecute, to make sure more young people and their guardians know about the law and what can happen if these laws are not abided.

Officers moving into the final phase of the operation will then look to seize any further e-scooters being used illegally. Where appropriate, prosecution will follow against those continuing to use them illegally and dangerously on our streets.

It forms part of our commitment to making sure we tackle reports of anti-social behaviour and illegal use of our roads as proactively and effectively as possible.

Sergeant Vicky Welch, from the Stoke North local policing team, said: “We know lots of people riding e-scooters don’t necessarily understand the law that sits around them, particularly young people.

“We don’t want to prosecute people who fall into this category, and we fully understand that communities want other priorities to be tackled as well, but persistent illegal use of e-scooters is a real problem and breaks the law, which we must uphold.

“Officers up and down Staffordshire are working hard every day to tackle the issues that matter most to local people. Those riding e-scooters might be engaging in anti-social behaviour and putting themselves and others at risk on our road networks, which is why we need to act.

“The main aim of this initiative is to make sure people know about the law around e-scooters. It isn’t about prosecuting these people.

“We’ll take the necessary action against those who persistently ignore these interventions and continue to use e-scooters illegally on our streets.”

If you own an e-scooter or you’re a guardian of someone who does, please make sure you know the law by reading our website here