Tackling Illegal E-Bikes in Your Community

We know e-bikes have been raised repeatedly as a major concern locally. At a recent community meeting, MP Siobhain McDonagh received dozens of complaints, and partners have echoed the same frustrations. This has been a long-standing issue, and we’re committed to providing a meaningful response.

Operation Frostwatch started on the17th of November, since, officers have recovered 30 illegal and overpowered e-bikes, many of which you can see being loaded onto the flatbed truck in the photo below. Even more significant was uncovering an e-bike chop shop in Pollards Hill, where stolen pedal cycles were being converted into e-bikes to support local drug lines.

We want to reassure you that this isn’t about chasing numbers. Each time we seize an illegal e-bike or scooter, we apply common sense and discretion. Our focus is on removing them from individuals who:

Example from Friday night:
A local gang member was stopped by our Q Car, and a high-powered adapted e-bike was seized. Just an hour later, officers pursued another masked rider smoking cannabis. After a chase into a dead end, the rider tried to enter a property claiming to be “visiting a friend.”  When detained and unmasked, it turned out to be the same individual stopped earlier. He was arrested for five traffic offences and failed a roadside drug test for cannabis.

This highlights the core issue: offenders have easy access to replacement bikes and exploit gaps in enforcement.

Please tell us about criminals using E-Bikes, riders who jeopardise your safety or locations that you feel particularly at risk! 

Photo: Flatbed truck collecting seized e-bikes at Mitcham Police Station.