Illegal e-bikes removed from city's streets

Police have seized 14 illegal e-bikes during an operation targeting antisocial riders in a city centre.

Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police organised the action in Plymouth on Tuesday after receiving reports of the bikes being ridden in a dangerous manner.

The force said e-bikes must have pedals that you can use to propel them, must have an electric motor that can run at a maximum power of 250 watts and no electrical assistance once you reach 15.5 miles per hour (25 km/h).

Sgt Clare Moore said the bikes - which can only be ridden legally by people aged 14 or over - could cause serious injuries if involved in a crash.

"People have been really worried about antisocial riding and injury because there's been reports both locally and nationally of quite significant collisions," she said.

Among the e-bikes seized during the operation included one with a throttle on it, which police said could help it go faster than the legal speed limit.

Insp Greg Bridgett said the force seized 29 e-bikes during a similar operation in Plymouth earlier in August and had dealt with a couple of serious collisions in recent months.

He added the force would be planning more operations in the future.

Mr Bridgett said: "We will take a robust approach to anyone riding those bikes illegally and we will be seizing those bikes if we find them being ridden in that way."

Correction 20 August, 2025: This story was updated to clarify the legal requirements of e-bikes.

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