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Death-trap” e-bikes: London police step up takedowns of illegal machines
London
Teams of cycle officers and specialist units across London have intensified efforts to stop, seize and — in some cases — physically bring down illegally modified electric bikes that police say are being used for everything from dangerous riding to organised crime.
Officers from the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police report a sharp rise in the number of souped-up e-bikes and e-scooters pulled from the capital’s streets. National Freedom of Information figures and frontline reporting show hundreds of illegal machines have been taken off the roads in the past year, with some capable of speeds typical of small motorbikes.
Why police are taking tougher action
Illegal e-bikes are often converted with more powerful motors or throttle kits that allow them to be ridden without pedalling, essentially turning them into unregistered, uninsured motorbikes. Police and transport safety experts warn these conversions make the machines heavier, faster and far more dangerous to pedestrians and other road users. Officers have described some seized bikes as “death-traps,” noting examples of machines modified to speeds of 60–70mph.
The City of London Police alone reported dozens — and in some reporting periods hundreds — of seizures after establishing a dedicated Cycle Response Unit to target the problem, particularly where modified bikes are linked to street robbery and organised phone-snatch gangs. Many of the machines confiscated are used by delivery riders who bought cheap conversion kits to keep up with demanding shifts.
Takedown tactics and public safety
Tactical contact takedowns — where police bikes or vehicles make controlled contact to stop a fleeing rider — have been described by officers as a necessary, proportionate tool when dealing with high-speed offenders who present an immediate danger to the public. The Met says such tactics are used carefully and as part of broader pursuit and containment procedures. Police also routinely seize machines on the spot if they are clearly illegal (for example, if they have a motor exceeding the legal power limit or are fitted with a throttle).
In addition to takedowns, officers stop and check riders for insurance, number plates and compliance with the law; many illegal e-bikes carry no registration or insurance and are ridden by people who may also be committing other offences. Where evidence suggests criminal activity, riders can be prosecuted; where a bike clearly falls outside legal e-bike specifications it can be seized and destroyed.
The law and new powers
Under UK rules an e-bike sold as an ‘electrically assisted pedal cycle’ (EAPC) must cut motor assistance at 15.5 mph and have a motor no greater than 250W. Machines that can be propelled without pedalling or that exceed those limits are legally classed as motor vehicles and must be taxed, insured and registered — requirements many modified bikes do not meet. Recent government proposals also seek to give police new powers to remove and destroy vehicles used in antisocial or criminal behaviour within a shortened timeframe, a change supporters say will make enforcement quicker and act as a stronger deterrent.
Community impact and industry pressure
Residents and businesses in areas hit by high-speed riders and theft gangs have welcomed tougher enforcement, pointing to growing fear on pavements and in busy transport hubs. But campaigners warn enforcement must be paired with support for vulnerable riders, many of whom are low-paid delivery workers who bought modified machines because of long hours and pressure to deliver quickly. There are calls for clearer regulation of e-bike imports, better safety checks by employers and for delivery platforms to take responsibility for rider welfare and equipment safety.
What riders should know
• If your e-bike has a throttle or a motor larger than 250W, or can propel itself without pedalling, it is likely illegal for use as a normal e-bike on UK roads.
• Illegal bikes can be seized; riders caught using them may face prosecution for driving without insurance, failing to stop for police, or other offences.
• Conversion kits are inexpensive but can make bikes dangerous and unreliable — including fire risks from poor battery installations.
The balance ahead
Police say their priority is public safety: removing machines that present an immediate risk to pedestrians and other road users, and disrupting criminal use of high-powered bikes. But the continuing surge in illegal e-bikes has highlighted broader policy gaps — from the regulation of imports and online sales of conversion kits to the responsibilities of employers and delivery platforms. As London’s streets adapt to a transport landscape that increasingly includes micro-vehicles, authorities, industry and communities will need to work together to keep people safe without criminalising those driven to cut corners by economic pressures.
Attached is a news article regarding illegal bike take down in London
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