Anti-social behaviour

Officers from the Cheltenham Neighbourhood Policing Team had a proactive evening last night (Thursday 11 September) seizing illegally modified e-bikes and e-scooters.

They stopped and seized three e-scooters and one illegally modified e-bike. The illegal e-bike was found to be capable of going 65kph without pedal assistance and didn't have working brakes.

Privately owned e-scooters and e-bikes that exceed the legal limits all require road tax, vehicle insurance, and a valid MOT to be ridden on public land due to being treated as motor vehicles by law.

Whilst out on patrols, officers also saw a stolen motorbike being driven through the lower High Street and headed to a known hot spot for dumped bikes hoping to locate it there.

This bike was not found in that location, however officers found a Surron electric dirt bike that had been ridden anti-socially in recent days, so this was also seized for being ridden without insurance.

The stolen motorbike was later found by a member of the public dumped at a different location and was recovered by police. Enquiries are ongoing to identify the suspects. 

Electric bikes should not exceed 250 watts and the maximum speed which the motor can legally assist the bike whilst pedalling must not exceed 15.5mph or 24.94 km/h.

In addition, the electric motor should not assist the bike to exceed 3.7mph or 5.95km when unassisted (e.g. the rider is not pedalling).

Anyone breaking the law risks a £300 fixed penalty notice, six points on a driving licence, and your illegal electric bike or scooter being seized and destroyed.

More information on the laws and regulations around e-bikes and e-scooters can be found here: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/news/gloucestershire/2025/august/warning-that-police-in-cheltenham-will-seize-illegal-e-bikes-and-e-scooters/