Illegal e-bikes seized as clampdown begins in Nottingham city centre

Numerous e-bikes were seized during a policing operation aimed at tackling illegal riding in Nottingham city centre.

I suspect your bike is illegal from some of the checks we've done. It's been adapted with the motor underneath the um crankshaft. Got a battery there. Clearly winds propelled without Hello there. My name's Dan Butler. I'm one of the neighbor police and sergeants covering the city center. Today we're out and about in the city in relation to illegal ebikes. We've had numerous reports from members of the public um in the city center about the illegal use of ebikes about the the type of bikes which are being used in and around the city. Um the dangers which are associated with those bikes. Um so the teams have deployed today in a an afternoon of action in and around in the city to engage with those riders to educate those riders and also to enforce if offenses have been identified today. >> Because it's got the throttle. It's not pedal pedal assisted. It makes it an illegal ebike. Okay. It's fast as a moped. >> Do you understand? >> Yeah. >> So, by you riding it, you've committed a number of traffic offenses that we're going to have to deal with. >> Right. So, your ebike does not meet the requirements uh UK requirements. Okay. So, for ebikes, so I'll show you our system here. So, your pedals must be present when you're driving it, if that makes sense. Okay. And we've seen you. We've been driving around and you've just been using the throttle. You haven't [music] been using the pedals or anybody. If I could pass one message on to people who are considering utilizing illegal ebikes and illegal e scooters in the city, just let you know if you are seen by the police, you are stopped by the police. The police will be seizing [music] your bike. It will be extremely difficult for you to get that bike back and rest assured you will be prosecuted for any uh any offenses [music] which come to light by uh by the teams here because we are very determined to get on top of this problem in the city. And that's as a result of what the public have asked us to do.