Derbyshire police praised for destroying illegal e-scooters - but fear change in law
Derbyshire police has been praised for destroying dangerous e-scooters from riders – but there are fears the crackdown could stop if they become legalised.
The police force had seized 99 e-scooters in the first month of a new county-wide operation to help make people feel safer, DerbyWorld reported this week.
Dozens of the vehicles seen ridden illegally were crushed by police from Derby city centre, which has been a problem area for “nuisance” riders.
It is not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, which means it is illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces. Anyone using a private e-scooter illegally risks having the vehicle seized by police. However, it is legal for them to be ridden on private land.
Derbyshire police’s new “seize first” position with e-scooters means officers now have no requirements to issue an initial warning at the first offence.
Many people on social media have welcomed the police intervention so far. One Facebook user told Derbyshire Police: “Well done, please don’t stop.”
Oakwood councillor Jamie Mulhall has been calling for action to ban e-scooters in Derby city centre after seeing the problems they bring. He has welcomed the police action and hopes it can continue.
Councill Mulhall said: “I am very pleased to see Derbyshire Constabulary being proactive in clamping down on e-scooters across the city centre. I am pleased that my concerted efforts, awkward questions to Derby’s leadership on the council and sustained beating of the drum on this issue to highlight the problem across not just our city centre but the whole of Derby has been successful.
“It’s important that people understand the rules and regulations around e-scooters. Technology is a wonderful thing but we have to get the balance right.
“I’m pleased to see the crusher will be getting some good use. Long may it continue.”
But there are concerns that this police action could become a temporary measure should e-scooters be legalised on public roads as a form of alternative transport.
Recent reports online state the UK Government is “moving closer” to “legalising the use of privately owned e-scooters on public roads”. If this was to happen then the police may no longer be allowed to remove the vehicles as they do now.
In November Transport Secretary Louise Haigh was quoted as saying that e-scooters could be a “really effective part of an integrated transport strategy”.
Legal trials of rental e-scooters on roads in England have been ongoing in towns and cities since July 2020 – but the one in Derby was stopped in January due to the company behind it halting its UK operations.
E-scooter safety campaigner Sarah Gayton, from the UK’s National Federation of the Blind, welcomed the force’s action so far. But feared it would be “carnage” if e-scooters were legalised.
Ms Gayton said: “This (action from Derbyshire police) is really encouraging news and we would sincerely like to thank the new Police and Crime Commissioner and the police for taking this action. E-scooters are absolutely terrifying for blind and visually impaired people, as they are silent, fast and used on the pavement and in pedestrian spaces. There is no way blind people can keep themselves safe from these machines and we are so thankful for the danger being removed.”
“We hope the tactics being used by Derbyshire Police can be shared with other forces to encourage them to do the same. We are hoping that the Government comes to its senses and does not make them legal, as they are a vehicle which underpins anti-social behaviour and one that is inherently dangerous to both rider and pedestrian. It would be absolute carnage and we hope they are never legalised.”