Use of illegal e-scootes shows a big increase despite seizures

A screenshot from a Derbyshire police video of a police chase with an e-scooter rider in Derby. Image by Derbyshire police.

A “big increase” in the illegal use of e-scooters in Derby and wider county has been reported – despite hundreds of the vehicles destroyed by police.

Derbyshire police has seized 850 e-scooters since it started a “seize-first” enforcement approach at the end of 2024 following complaints and safety concerns raised by residents.

But officers have issued a further warning after seeing more of them on the streets, despite the actions taken in the last 18 months.

It comes after force has released a video showing two riders stopped after a police chase in Derby.

It is against the law to use privately owned e-scooters on public roads, pavements and cycle paths.

However, they may be ridden on public roads if a local authority is running an e-scooter trial scheme. Nottingham currently has an e-scooter trial scheme but Derby does not.

The vehicles can pose a safety risk to both riders, motorists and pedestrians, police have warned.

Police say the vehicles can also be linked to other types of crime and have urged people to do research before buying them.

The latest warning came after an incident in Oakwood Park where a teenager was seen “approaching people making threats” while riding an e-scooter.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with making threats to a member of the public. He is due to appear at Southern Derbyshire Youth Court on Friday, August 14th.

Derbyshire police said: “We are seeing a big increase of reports of e-scooters and e-bikes across Derbyshire on public roads.”

Derbyshire police has released video footage showing two youngsters being stopped after riding vehicles dangerously around Derby city centre.

One of the youngsters can be seen whizzing in between queuing cars at traffic lights on Mercian Way approaching the Lidl supermarket.

Another is seen riding in front of a moving car despite a police officer telling him to “jump off it”.

The riders were eventually stopped by police and the vehicles seized.

Inspector Lee Welsby, from Derbyshire’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Our approach is clear, and we would advise anyone considering buying an e-scooter to use anywhere apart from private land to think again. Save yourself money, time and stress by doing the research and buying something you can use legally.”

Derby City Council said it “does not currently have any plans to reintroduce an e-scooter trial in the city” – after its last one came to a halt in 2024.

A spokesperson said: “The safety of e-scooters is a matter for the Department of Transport, who are assessing various trial schemes to determine how or if e-scooters will be regulated in the future.

“The challenges with privately owned e-scooters are being monitored and reported by the police.”